By Jeremy Duda | Axios
Arizona’s big three utilities are eyeing a new nuclear power plant, but it’ll be a long and complicated process.
The big picture: Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project and Tucson Electric Power jointly announced last week they’re exploring generating power from new nuclear sources by the early 2040s.
Yes, but: A lot has to happen to make this a reality, if it happens at all.
Why it matters: Arizona needs more power to continue the energy-intensive economic growth it’s experienced in recent years, said Court Rich, an attorney with Rose Law Group who specializes in energy and utility issues.
Driving the news: The utilities applied for a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for a preliminary site-selection process, which would include looking at retiring coal plants.
- If approved, it would support a three-year site-selection process and possible preparation of an early site permit application for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
- The NRC would also have to approve plant design, safety, environmental protection and more.
- The Corporation Commission last week opened a docket on nuclear issues in response to the announcement and plans to schedule a workshop in the coming months.
Between the lines: More nuclear generation could come either through large projects or small modular reactors that can generate up to 300 megawatts. By comparison, the Palo Verde Generating Station can generate 1,400 megawatts.
Zoom in: In addition to the “tremendous amount of federal oversight” the utilities will need approval from the Corporation Commission to build the plant, zoning from a municipal or county government, and water permitting from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Rich noted.
