Coronado Generating Station Repowering Project

About the project 

On June 24, 2025, the SRP Board of Directors approved Management’s proposal to convert the Coronado Generating Station (CGS) from coal to natural gas. To support this conversion, a new lateral natural gas pipeline will be permitted and constructed by a third-party gas supplier.

Why is this project needed?

Converting the plant to run on natural gas is the lowest-cost option to preserve the plant’s capacity — enough power to serve more than 150,000 homes — that will be critical to meeting the peak energy demand of SRP customers, which is expected to increase by 50% by 2035.

This project also supports SRP’s carbon reduction goals and provides a bridge to the mid-2040s, when other generating technology options that could be used on the CGS site, including advanced nuclear, are mature.

SRP is part of the Coal Communities Transition Initiative that is helping Apache County implement a roadmap focused on entrepreneurship, tourism, site development, workforce development and community improvements.

News release

SRP Board Approves Converting Coal-fired Coronado Generating Station to Run on Natural Gas

Anticipated timeline

SRP announced its intent to repurpose CGS from coal-powered to natural gas-powered. To support this effort, SRP plans to cease coal generation at the site and complete the conversion to natural gas by late 2029.

Past events

Sept. 14, 2023: Kiewit Repurposing Study and GAIN Repurposing Study presentation

The SRP Coal Communities Transition team presented the results of the Kiewit Repurposing Study and GAIN Repurposing Study.

Oct. 25, 2022: CGS community open house 

With CGS set to cease coal generation no later than 2032, the SRP Coal Communities Transition team hosted an open house on Oct. 25, 2022, to discuss their efforts to help St. Johns and the surrounding communities develop sustainable and strategic economies. Attendees learned about current studies to determine the possibility of repurposing the site for other generation technologies.

The transition team also discussed the Arizona Commerce Authority’s $9.7M broadband grant, which SRP and TEP helped Apache County receive. Economic development consultants were also on hand to provide information to CGS employees about workforce development and job training opportunities in the area.

Contact us