Arizona's TEP wants to add close to 2.5 GW of wind, solar

Arizona utility Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is proposing the addition of 2,475 MW of new wind and solar power generating capacity and some 1,400 MW of energy storage as part of a new 15-year plan.

The company filed its 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) on Friday, seeking permission to also retire its remaining coal-fired power plants over the next 12 years.

TEP said it expects to bring online 457 MW of new wind and solar over the next year and noted it is currently working to complete a couple of large wind farms in New Mexico along with a local solar-plus-storage project.

The idea behind the new 15-year plan is for 70% of TEP’s power supply to come from wind and solar resources by 2035, with interim objectives of more than 40% in 2030 and over 60% by 2033.

As per coal-fired resources, the utility is on track to retire over 600 MW of coal generation by June 2022 through recent and scheduled closures at the Navajo and San Juan plants. In addition, it proposes to ramp down and ultimately retire 793 MW through its two units at the Springerville Generating Station (SGS) in 2027 and 2032. TEP also sources some electricity from two units at the Four Corners plant that should close in 2031.

Ultimately, the new IRP will help reduce TEP’s carbon emissions by 80% by 2035.

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