Coal in Arizona
[ and its impact on our communities & land ]
Coal plants are closing, and the rural & Tribal communities who’ve relied on them need an Empowered Transition.
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is the agency in charge of regulating government granted-utility monopolies in Arizona. Currently, the ACC is in the midst of three different proceedings in which there is potential to secure substantial financial support and resources from utilities that have owned, operated and profited from their coal-fired power plants for the communities in their transition from coal to new, sustainable economies.
For nearly half a century, these communities – both Tribal and rural – allowed Tucson Electric Power (TEP), Arizona Public Service (APS) and other utilities to provide power and water to their customers throughout Arizona. Now, these companies are making economic decisions to close plants such as Navajo Generating Station, San Juan Generating Station and Four Corners Power Plant. The ACC at long last is considering possible ways to ensure these companies don’t turn their backs on communities that have allowed them to profit so handsomely for many decades.
The ACC will be the final decision-maker on if and how TEP and APS will be required to provide Just Transition assistance to communities hit hard by the closure of coal plants and mines. The time to act is now.
Coal in Arizona [interactive map]
Coal-fired power plants have become uneconomic, and utilities like TEP and APS are closing them down earlier and earlier. Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta Mine closed 25 years earlier than they were supposed to – giving communities and local governments less than three years to find ways to replace lost jobs and significant parts of their revenue. That’s hardly enough time to completely rebuild local economies and replace lost jobs.
Use the map below to learn more about coal operations in Arizona, the communities they impact, and the need for Just and Equitable Transition support in these communities.