Our environmental policies and programs

We have a deeply rooted culture of environmental regulatory compliance. That’s why we have extensive compliance programs and policies, and regularly perform audits and in-depth self-evaluations of our facilities and operations to ensure we’re adhering to them.

Taking action on climate change

As a community-based leader, SRP is committed to helping our customers achieve their clean energy goals and reduce the risks of climate change on Arizona communities and our region. 

Today, given the growing risks associated with the changing climate, SRP will significantly and steadily reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining a reliable, affordable and sustainable supply of power and water.

In fact, we plan to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted per megawatt-hour (MWh) by 82% from 2005 levels by 2035 and to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. It’s all part of our goals to reduce carbon emissions, evolve the grid and improve water resiliency.

Protecting the air we breathe

SRP's air quality compliance strategy focuses on finding technically sound and environmentally beneficial ways to meet the stringent emission requirements associated with power generation. 

We’ve invested more than $1 billion in emissions controls, equipping our generating stations with a wide range of air pollution control equipment. 

Since 1995, those controls have reduced sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions intensity by 80%. 

Here are the steps we’ve taken to improve air quality in Phoenix:   

• Invested more than $500 million to upgrade air pollution equipment at Coronado Generating Station.
• Reduced the use of mechanical parts cleaning products that generate hazardous waste and have the potential to release toxic air emissions.
• Decreased fugitive dust emissions during construction and maintenance activities in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
• Controlled many of our gas units for nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. (Clean-burning natural gas is the primary fuel in these units and low-sulfur fuel oil is available for emergency operating situations.)

SRP’s cultural resources program

SRP places great importance on the preservation of cultural resources at our facilities. When impacts to cultural resources can’t be avoided, our Cultural Resources Program works with Native American, federal, state and municipal partners to make sure the proper rules and scientific standards for recovery, analysis and curation are followed.

We often go above and beyond these regulatory requirements as SRP believes it is our ethical obligation to preserve our valued heritage and cultural resources. Because of this, SRP is committed to promoting community education about archaeology, history and cultural resources. Some of our efforts include funding of cultural resources events, education programs, classroom visits, public lectures and informative signs along our canal paths. Learn more about SRP’s history.

Historic places

Many of SRP’s facilities are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including:

• The Salt River Project Diversion and Conveyance System Historic District, which includes the Arizona, Crosscut, Grand, South, Consolidated, Eastern, Tempe, Western and Highline canals, the Granite Reef Diversion Dam and the Crosscut Hydroelectric Plant
• Bartlett, Horse Mesa, Horseshoe, Mormon Flat and Stewart Mountain dams
• Theodore Roosevelt Dam, which is not listed in the National Register, is designated by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure.

Archeological sites

In order to protect fragile archaeological remains, the locations of archaeological sites are not disclosed in compliance with federal and state law and in accordance with SRP Policy (36 CFR 296.18, ARS § 39-125, SRP Policy 8-70-1).