Arizona regulators are weighing whether to allow the Salt River Project to build the Marigold power plant near Stanfield in Pinal County, as residents warn the project could add to pollution and water stress in an area they say is already overburdened.
The proposed facility would pair solar panels and battery storage with gas generation, making the gas component the central concern for critics.
Here's what to know
Public scrutiny is focused on an Arizona Corporation Commission siting hearing for SRP's Marigold proposal. During a public comment session, SRP customers and nearby residents urged regulators to reject or more closely examine the project, KJZZ reported.
Air pollution is one of the main issues raised in the case. While SRP said in its application that the gas-fired portion of the plant would be covered by air-quality regulations, the Sierra Club told the commission that the filing lacks the supporting data needed to show that.
Speakers also pointed to the area's existing air-quality problems, noting that it already does not meet federal standards.
"Living close to a gas plant increases the exposure to harmful pollutants that contribute to chronic illnesses like heart disease, cancers, lung diseases, etc. It also contributes to climate change, and its prices are unstable and rising," resident Ana Gorla said.
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Water use has become another major point of dispute. SRP said the plant would not increase groundwater use because it plans to rely on storage credits, but residents want regulators to consider the combined effect of this and other industrial proposals in the area.
Azucena Herrera Gonzalez, who lives nearby, urged the state siting committee to study the Marigold project together with another proposed power plant and a data center rather than reviewing it in isolation.
What's being done?
The main action is unfolding through the state siting process. Regulators are reviewing SRP's application, hearing public testimony, and deciding whether the company has adequately addressed pollution and water concerns before moving ahead.
Residents are also pressing for a broader, independent review of what multiple planned developments in the Stanfield area could mean collectively.
"We're asking for an independent assessment that considers these developments together when evaluating groundwater, noise, heat, air quality," Gonzalez said.
Where can I learn more?
Similar fights over power plants and industrial projects have played out elsewhere. They cover plant funding battles in Arizona, local opposition to new generation, and environmental concerns tied to major developments.
• Arizona's Cholla fight became a Trump-backed revolt as regulators faced fresh political pressure.
• In Wisconsin, WEPCO's Oak Creek plan drew community backlash over local impacts and energy-cost concerns.
• In Kenya's Kilifi County, residents said they have limited information about a proposed nuclear plant.
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