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Desert Sun Power Plant Project
aps
Estimated completion date – 2031
Project description
APS is proposing to build a new natural gas plant, the Desert Sun Power Plant, west of Gila Bend. The Desert Sun site would be capable of adding around 1,280 megawatts (MW) of reliable and flexible generation to the state’s energy portfolio. Construction is planned to begin in 2028, if approved.
To support the proposed plant, we also expect to add infrastructure in the area, including transmission lines. We will evaluate route options and engage with the local community as part of our transmission siting process.
Project need
Desert Sun is needed to address Arizona’s rapidly growing energy needs. Natural gas is critical to deliver reliable service for our customers. It supports around-the-clock energy needs and can provide on-demand energy (including during the late afternoon and evening hours when customer energy use is highest). Natural gas is an important part of a diverse energy mix and a critical partner to the solar, wind and battery energy storage we’re adding to our system.
Our growth pays for growth strategy provides a path for extra-large energy users, including data centers, advanced manufacturing and other customers with high demands for energy, to fund the infrastructure they require without compromising reliability and affordability for the families and businesses that count on us for energy today and into the future. Learn more about how we’re protecting customers while planning for big energy needs at aps.com/datacenters.
Project vicinity
Community input
We are committed to sharing information about the project and engaging with the local community. Studies are underway, and we will be in the project area in early 2026 to share more information. We will provide updates via newsletter, hold virtual and in-person open houses and can be reached via email or phone.
For questions or comments regarding the project, please contact us at 928-421-2777 or DesertSun@aps.com.
Resources
News Release: APS Uses 'Growth Pays For Growth' Model to Develop New Natural Gas Plant
Frequently Asked Questions
We made a business decision to move a portion of the generation (what was called “phase one” in the original announcement) to a location in Pinal County. When selecting sites, we consider transmission capacity, permitting timelines and other factors that would favor timely resource development. APS is proposing to locate this generation at the existing Saguaro Power Plant in Red Rock, Arizona southeast of Casa Grande. We believe this decision can support in-service of a new resource by 2030 to meet our customers’ needs.
Natural gas is critical to delivering reliable service for our customers. It provides flexible, on-demand energy (including during the late afternoon and evening hours when customer energy use is highest) and supports around-the-clock energy needs.
Natural gas is an important partner to the renewable resources we’re adding to our system. Cost-competitive renewables and battery energy storage are critical to our energy portfolio but cannot entirely provide the capacity and reliability required to meet the needs of our customers, especially as energy demands continue to grow. When solar and wind come offline and battery energy storage systems are depleted after a few hours, natural gas helps fill the gap.
Overall, a balanced and diverse energy mix – including nuclear, natural gas, solar, wind, battery energy storage, coal and customer demand response programs – supports reliability while keeping energy bills as low as possible for our customers.
Impact studies for the proposed plant are underway. Air quality results will be reviewed as part of the air permit process with Maricopa County and the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure air quality in the area remains within established guidelines to protect public health.
We will use stringent, state-of-the-art control technologies, such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR), to limit emissions, as required by the federal Clean Air Act and Maricopa County Air Pollution Control Regulations.
We expect to need two new switchyards (one at the plant site and one to connect to the larger grid) and two transmission lines to bring this much-needed energy to our customers.
We will evaluate route options and engage with the local community as part of our transmission siting process.
