Agua Fria and Kyrene Peaker Plants
Community Sign-On Letter
Salt River Project (SRP)
P.O. Box 52025
Phoenix, AZ 85072-2025
Dear Salt River Project (SRP) Leadership,
Our community recently came together to learn about the pressing issue of your Agua Fria and Kyrene Generating Stations located in Glendale, AZ, and Tempe, AZ respectively. The facts we discovered about these peaker plants, which were built over half a century ago, were deeply concerning.
As the owner and operator of the Agua Fria and Kyrene Generating Stations, SRP has inherent responsibility to ensure the safety of the surrounding communities. The primary culprit is methane gas, a damaging greenhouse gas your plant burns during its infrequent operation. Additionally, long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions from the plant can have detrimental effects on our respiratory health. Not only is it harmful to our lungs, but it also contributes to the global warming crisis we all face today.
Unfortunately, the burden doesn't stop at our health and environment. The financial instability of methane gas prices also affects us directly. When these prices spiked in 2022, we felt it in our pocketbooks as utility bills across our community skyrocketed. And as these prices continue to rise, we continue to feel the weight of this burden.
As one of the nation's largest public power utilities, SRP's role extends beyond merely providing electricity to over two million people. It also involves shaping the energy future of our community and ensuring it's sustainable and healthy. It's crucial that SRP leverages its influence to protect both our environment and the well-being of the people it serves.
There is a solution: renewable energy. The clean power produced by sources like wind and solar is safer for our health, better for our planet, and more affordable for our households. With the use of modern battery technologies, this renewable energy can be stored and used as needed - a stark contrast to the limited and damaging operation of the Agua Fria and Kyrene plants.
Thus, we stand together to request the following from SRP:
-
Close the methane gas turbines at the Agua Fria and Kyrene Generating Stations and make a meaningful transition on-site to solar power and battery storage.
-
Actively invest in renewable energy. We need a swift transition from outdated and harmful technologies like peaker plants towards clean, efficient, and sustainable power solutions.
-
Apply to grant programs to help our community transition to renewable energy. These initiatives can alleviate the financial burdens of this shift, making it more accessible for everyone.
By embracing renewable energy and supporting our community in this transition, SRP has the opportunity to inspire other utilities and contribute significantly to a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Arizona.
We look forward to a future where our power doesn't harm our health or our planet. Thank you for your time and for considering our request.
Sincerely,
Yaraneth Marin
Interior West Regional Director, Vote Solar
Yadira Sanchez
Executive Director, Poder Latinx
Alex Routhier
Senior Clean Energy Policy Analyst, Western Resource Advocates