A fight over a new gas plant in Arizona is exposing the challenges of greening the West’s power grid.
Electricity demand is climbing in the Grand Canyon State, driven by a combination of a growing population, climate-fueled heat waves and a robust economy — symbolized by a massive semiconductor under construction in Phoenix.
UniSource Energy Services, which serves parts of western and Southern Arizona, proposed expanding an existing gas plant to meet the need for additional electricity on its system. But in a twist, the power company proposed installing a collection of smaller turbines that effectively enable it to bypass a comprehensive state environmental review. The move was approved by state utility regulators earlier this month.
Environmentalists warn the decision sets a dangerous precedent — one that could allow power companies to run roughshod over Arizona’s environmental laws and exacerbate the very heat waves that are driving the need for more electricity.
