Our commitment to air quality
SRP produces energy in a safe and environmentally responsive manner.
Not only do we comply with all laws and regulations, we also exceed
compliance when it makes economic sense and provides environmental benefits.
We are committed to helping solve air quality challenges in metropolitan Phoenix.
We encourage our employees to be environmentally responsible at work and home,
educate area teachers and students about air quality issues and offer our customers
opportunities to get involved in reducing air emissions.
In addition, we take initiative in forming partnerships and creating special environmental programs.
SRP operates five power generating stations and
participates in five other jointly owned plants. Each coal-fired generating station is
equipped with air pollution control equipment and is operated to continuously meet
legal standards.
The gas and oil units, located in the Phoenix metropolitan area, are peaking plants primarily
used to serve the high summertime load. Clean burning natural gas is the primary fuel; distillate
or residual fuel oil is available for emergency operating situations and for compliance testing.
SRP's air quality compliance strategy is designed to meet stringent emission requirements in the
most economical and environmentally beneficial way. This has resulted in lower emissions of
greenhouse gasses which may affect the global climate, and of nitrous oxide (NOx) and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), the primary components of smog. Operational changes and
equipment upgrades also reduced sulfur dioxide (SO2), fugitive dust and opacity emissions.
Among the steps SRP has taken are:
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Invested more than $3 million to improve the effectiveness of emissions reductions
at Coronado Generating Station.
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Installed high efficiency scrubbers to remove SO2 from the emissions
at the Navajo Generating Station at a cost of $470 million.
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Completed upgrades to the burners and overall combustion systems at our plants in the
past two years to reduce NOx emissions. NOx emissions now are not only below the
federal Acid Rain Program emission limits which took effect in 2000, but also are below
the more stringent limits that take effect 2008.
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Reduced the use of products that generate hazardous waste and lowering air emissions
of toxic chemicals. Instead of using high VOC solvents, SRP's Transportation division
uses detergent and high-pressure water to clean parts.
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Minimizing or preventing fugitive dust emissions during construction and maintenance
along our canal banks. Efforts include the constant operation of street sweepers
during dry-up work on the canals, a maximum speed limit of 15 mph to control dust from
SRP vehicles and using physical and chemical stabilization to control dust during long-term
projects.
SRP is involved in local, state, tribal and federal policy and technical discussions on air quality
implementation and compliance issues.
We also participate in public workshops regarding environmental rules for Maricopa County
by providing feedback to local agencies regarding solvent cleaning, surface coating, permit
modifications and fugitive dust. We also provide technical guidance and information on
emerging technologies to local agencies.
The Alliance is dedicated to environmental education, mentoring and promoting
leadership in Arizona. Only those entities with unblemished environmental compliance
histories and "beyond compliance" initiatives are eligible for membership. As an
environmental leader, SRP qualifies, and our management serves on the Alliance's
Board of Directors.
SRP has offered thousands of customers a rebate each spring for exchanging polluting gas lawn
mowers for cleaner, quieter electric lawn mowers. Since
Mowing Down Pollution began in 1996, more than 20,589 households now mow with clean electric lawn mowers.
The community's enthusiastic response to the Mowing Down Pollution was instrumental
in encouraging other cities – such as Tucson; Austin, Texas; and Portland, Oregon -- to
consider creating their own gas mower collection event.
SRP offers home developers the convenience, cost-savings and environmental benefits
of temporary electric power over gas-powered generators during residential construction.
The meter provides outlets for construction power without energizing the main power panel.
When the homeowners are ready to move in, a permanent meter is easily installed.
The Green Lights Program is sponsored by the Department of Energy and encourages
businesses to use energy efficient lights.
In six years, SRP surveyed 1.2 million square feet of floor space and changed out all older,
inefficient lights for more energy efficient lights throughout all our facilities. We also installed
automatic timers in meeting rooms and offices.
The upgrades we completed resulted in saving 6,400 megawatts of electricity and
eliminating nine tons of sulfur dioxide and ten tons of nitrogen oxides.