Salt River Project Expands Sustainability Initiatives for Arizona Businesses

Categories: Arizona Business NewsArizona State News

Modern businesses embracing sustainability with solar energy and electric vehicle infrastructure.

News Summary

The Salt River Project (SRP) has launched the Business Demand Response Program to enhance sustainability, prevent power outages, and reduce costs for Arizona businesses. This cost-free initiative provides real-time energy analytics and support for load reduction during peak periods. SRP also honored twelve businesses for their contributions to sustainability at the Champions of Sustainability awards. Additionally, SRP is developing two energy storage projects to further expand renewable energy use, reflecting its commitment to decarbonizing its energy portfolio.

Arizona – The Salt River Project (SRP) has expanded its sustainability efforts through the implementation of the Business Demand Response Program, aimed at preventing power outages and reducing operational costs for Arizona businesses. This cost-free program is accessible to a variety of entities, including commercial, institutional, industrial, educational, and municipal organizations.

Participants in the program receive notifications for load reduction during peak demand periods via email, phone, or SMS, communicated through Enel. Enrolled businesses can manage their energy consumption by reducing non-essential lighting, modifying manufacturing processes, and adjusting HVAC systems. The program offers flexible participation options, including partial enrollment and trial months, to accommodate different operational needs.

Additionally, SRP provides free real-time energy usage analytics to participating businesses, allowing them to monitor their consumption hour by hour. Each business is paired with a dedicated strategic energy manager (SEM), who assists with challenges related to energy efficiency.

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, SRP recently honored twelve businesses for their significant contributions at the 11th annual Champions of Sustainability awards. The awardees showcased innovative initiatives such as energy-efficient building upgrades, demand response participation, and the development of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

The selected Champions of Sustainability recipients include:

American Leadership Academy: Upgraded with advanced rooftop controls, LED lighting, and optimized HVAC systems.
Aligned Data Centers: Expanded with energy-efficient chillers and economizers.
Quality Custom Distribution: Enhanced operations with electric forklift chargers and transport refrigeration units.
K. Hovnanian Homes: Certified 184 energy-efficient homes and introduced Zero Energy Ready homes.
Birdsong Phoenix: Developed Phoenix’s first net-zero multi-family affordable housing project.
Bristol Myers Squibb: Installed LED lighting and a chilled water-cooling system at their manufacturing facility.
Banner Health: Improved energy savings through lighting and HVAC upgrades across its facilities.
City of Mesa: Launched Arizona’s first all-electric firetruck and added EV charging stations.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley: Established a solar system generating 72,000 kWh annually.
Arizona Humane Society: Incorporated energy-efficient upgrades at their new care facility.
Mountainside Fitness: Enhanced HVAC systems at five fitness centers for better energy efficiency.
Residences at 2211 Camelback: Features 75 Level 2 EV charging ports for residents.

In addition to the Business Demand Response Program, SRP has launched a partnership with Flatland Storage LLC to develop a 200 MW battery energy storage project known as the Flatland Energy Storage Project, anticipated to be operational by 2025. This project is designed to supply power to up to 45,000 homes during peak demand periods and is projected to save over 169 million gallons of water annually through energy conservation.

Furthermore, SRP is collaborating with Aypa Power on another significant energy storage initiative, the Signal Butte energy storage project, which will generate 250 MW to meet the increasing electricity demand in Phoenix and is scheduled to be operational by mid-2026.

These initiatives reflect SRP’s broader commitment to sustainability and its goal of decarbonizing its energy portfolio while increasing the utilization of renewable energy resources. In line with these goals, SRP also has plans to explore nuclear energy in partnership with three major utilities in Arizona, signaling a strategic focus on meeting future energy needs through diverse and sustainable methods.