Fortis announced that its utility Tucson Electric Power in Arizona has set a target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2035. Details of the clean energy targets are included in the utility’s 2020 Integrated Resource Plan.
Key elements of the plan:
- 2,457 megawatts of new wind and solar power systems, including 457 MW that will be coming online over the next year
- 1,400 MW of new energy storage systems
- A proposal to ramp down and ultimately retire TEP’s two units at the coal fired Springerville Generating Station in 2027 and 2032. The timeline would allow TEP to reduce the plant’s workforce through attrition while providing time for the company to help the local community minimize the impact of the units’ retirement.
- Eliminating the use of surface water for power generation and a 70% reduction in groundwater use
- Continued support for energy efficiency programs to reduce usage and peak power demands
- These changes will result in TEP avoiding more than 50 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the next 15 years.
“TEP is accelerating its transition to cleaner energy resources through a cost-effective plan that supports reliable, affordable service from increasingly sustainable resources,” said David Hutchens, CEO of TEP and chief operating officer of Fortis. “We’ll be reducing carbon emissions at a pace that places us at the forefront of global efforts to combat climate change.”
Eliminating coal-fired resources
The plan proposes reducing and ultimately eliminating its use of coal-fired resources. That transition is already underway, with the retirement of more than 600 MW of coal generation by June 2022 through recent and scheduled closures at the Navajo and San Juan Generating Stations. TEP also receives power from two coal-fired units at the Four Corners Generating Station that are scheduled to close in 2031.
Concern about climate change and other environmental impacts, low natural gas prices and other factors created an opportunity to evaluate the long-term use of SGS Units 1 and 2. Though reliable, the usage of the coal-fired units will be reduced and the units eventually retired. Energy from SGS Units 1 and 2 will be replaced with increased energy from wind farms, solar arrays and energy storage systems.
Clean energy expansion
The plan calls for a dramatic expansion of renewable energy resources, including some systems that are already under development. TEP is working to complete two large New Mexico wind farms and a local solar + storage project that will more than double its community-scale clean energy resources by next year.
The IRP also calls for enough new wind and solar generating capacity to provide more than 40% of the company’s power in 2030, more than 60% by 2033 and more than 70% by 2035. The expansions coincide with the planned addition of energy storage systems, which are projected to cost significantly less after 2030 than they do today.
Limiting global warming
TEP’s CO2 emission reduction goal was developed in partnership with the University of Arizona’s Institute of the Environment with input from a diverse group of customers, community leaders, local government representatives and environmental advocates, and is in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to below 2°C. The plan would reduce CO2 by 80% compared to 2005 levels.
Plans for coal reduction at the SGS are subject to the Arizona Corporation Commission’s approval of a modified plan for timely recovery of the plant’s remaining value. TEP has not yet determined what rate changes it may request or the timing of any such request.
“The plan being set by TEP is commendable as it takes the necessary steps to deliver cleaner energy to its customers,” said Barry Perry, president and CEO, Fortis Inc. “The ambitious targets are significant and impactful in terms of the overall Fortis energy mix. Upon retirement of TEP’s coal-fired generation, Fortis will have a coal-free generation mix.”
News item from Fortis
Ward Bailey says
Hey,
I like the photo of Sedona when referring to Tucson.
Tucson is beautiful too.
Unfortunately, Sedona is in APS territory!
Solarman says
“A proposal to ramp down and ultimately retire TEP’s two units at the coal fired Springerville Generating Station in 2027 and 2032. The timeline would allow TEP to reduce the plant’s workforce through attrition while providing time for the company to help the local community minimize the impact of the units’ retirement.”
A program, perhaps created due to the dumping of the NGS coal fired plant in 2019?