Briefing on Palo Verde

Palo Verde Generating Station is a 4.2 GW nuclear power plant in Arizona, consistently ranking as one of the top electricity producers in the United States with a strong operational record and significant financial investment.

Overview

• Project Name: Palo Verde Energy Educational Center (Atlas Obscura, 2025-12-15), also known as Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (The Arizona Republic, 2025-06-24).

• Location: Near Tonopah, Arizona, approximately 45 miles (72 km) west of downtown Phoenix.

• Status: Operating since 1986, it is a nuclear power plant with 3 generators.

• Significance: Generates the second most electricity of any power plant in the United States per year and is the second largest power plant by net generation as of 2024.

Fleet Details

• Capacity: 4.2 GW of nuclear power.

• Annual Generation: 31,322 GWh with a capacity factor of 84.9%.

• Recent Generation: 2,069 GWh in October 2025, 1,921 GWh in November 2025, and 2,822 GWh in December 2025.

• Grid Connection: Part of the NERC: WECC grid, with Salt River Project as the Balancing Authority.

Ownership and Operations

• Parent Company: Pinnacle West Capital.

• EIA Operator: Arizona Public Service Co.

• Joint Ownership: Arizona Public Service Co, El Paso Electric Co, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Public Service Co of NM, Salt River Project, Southern California Edison Co, and Southern California P P A.

• Partners: Salt River Project and Tucson Electric Power (World Nuclear News, 2025-02-07).

Financial Profile

• Capital Expenditure (CapEx): $3,291/kW (ferc, 2015–2024).

• Operating Expenditure (OpEx): $23.6/MWh (ferc, 2015–2024).

Palo Verde Generating Station is a critical baseload nuclear facility in Arizona, demonstrating high operational efficiency and significant generation capacity. Its joint ownership structure and ongoing partnerships highlight its strategic importance to multiple utilities in the region, while recent news indicates active management and potential expansion efforts.