Arizona Chamber backs APS plan for new Desert Sun Power Plant

New natural gas facility marks major milestone for Arizona’s reliable and competitive energy future

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry today issued the following statement applauding Arizona Public Service’s (APS) announcement of its intention to construct Desert Sun Power Plant, a state-of-the-art natural gas facility planned for Maricopa County, west of Gila Bend.

 “Arizona’s continued population growth and surging interest from 21st-century job creators demand bold investment in our state’s energy infrastructure. APS’s Desert Sun Power Plant represents exactly the type of smart solution Arizona needs to ensure our grid remains reliable, affordable, and competitive for business,” said Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The new facility comes on the heels of the recently announced expansion of the Transwestern natural gas pipeline, a project broadly supported by Arizona’s business community to meet the state’s growing energy demands and strengthen long-term reliability.

Natural gas generation is critical to the reliability and affordability of Arizona’s energy system, complementing intermittent resources to meet demand when the grid is most in need. APS’ investment in the Desert Sun site will provide up to 2,000 megawatts of new generating capacity, ensuring Arizona will continue to have 24/7 power to support quality of life and attract the industries of the future.

Desert Sun will feature an innovative, two-phased, concept focused on meeting the state’s unique needs. Phase one will be constructed to serve existing customers and organic population and small business growth communities across Arizona. Phase two will support the needs of extra-large energy users, like data centers, through the company’s new subscription model.

This innovative proposal will allow data centers and other large users to obtain service more quickly by directly funding the infrastructure needed for their operations. Importantly, this model ensures that costs are not passed on to residential and small commercial ratepayers, protecting affordability for all Arizonans while accelerating economic growth. 

“A dependable grid is one of Arizona’s greatest advantages in attracting new employers, especially compared to states that have faced energy-reliability challenges such as California and Texas,” said Grace Appelbe, executive director of the Arizona Manufacturers Council. “By investing in grid resilience and creating capacity for economic development, APS is helping keep Arizona at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and job creation.”

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