Arizona Public Service to Transition Cholla Power Plant from Coal to Natural Gas
In a strategic move to meet rising energy needs, Arizona Public Service (APS) is set to convert two coal-fired units at the Cholla Power Plant in Joseph City to natural gas. This adaptation revives a part of the long-established power facility as Arizona’s electricity requirements escalate.
Set to commence operations in 2029, the revamped plant aims to produce approximately 380 megawatts of power, sufficient to supply energy to nearly 60,000 households. Originally operational in 1962, the Cholla plant served as a crucial electricity supplier across the region for many years.
However, the coal units were completely shut down in March 2025 due to federal environmental regulations and increasing costs that rendered their operation economically unsustainable. By switching to natural gas, APS intends to continue utilizing the existing transmission infrastructure, although a specific cost estimate for this conversion has not been disclosed.
Arizona Corporation Commissioner Kevin Thompson highlighted the importance of this project for grid reliability, drawing comparisons to the prior conversions of the Springerville and Coronado plants. “Converting Cholla and bringing it back online as a dispatchable generating site is an important step to affordably enhance long-term grid reliability,” Thompson stated in a release dated July 2nd.
According to APS, this conversion project is projected to generate numerous construction jobs and maintain several permanent roles, in addition to contributing local tax revenue. The construction phase is anticipated to begin in 2028, contingent upon necessary approvals.
Earlier this year, the Arizona Corporation Commission also sanctioned the transitions of both the Springerville and Coronado Generating Stations from coal to natural gas, reflecting a broader trend towards cleaner energy sources.
In other news, law enforcement officials at Grand Canyon National Park are actively searching for an individual suspected of damaging a historic Hopi headpiece at the Desert View Watchtower last month.
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