Search
Search plants, projects, owners, and states
Search plants, projects, owners, and states
4209.6 MW Nuclear operating in Maricopa, AZ — Salt River Project
4,209.6 MW
Nameplate Capacity
3
Generators
units
Nuclear
Technology
1986
Operating Since
Coordinates
33.3881, -112.8617
County
Maricopa, AZ
Nearby Plants
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Arizona Public Service Co | Arizona Public Service | Arizona Public Service |
| Owner(s) | 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, Southern California P P A | Pinnacle West Capital | Arizona Public Service |
| Status | Operating | operating | — |
The Palo Verde Generating Station is a nuclear power plant located near Tonopah, Arizona about 45 miles (72 km) west of downtown Phoenix. Palo Verde 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 2021. Palo Verde has the third-highest rated capacity of any U.S power plant. It is a critical asset to the Southwest, generating approximately 32 million megawatt-hours annually.
Read more on WikipediaPalo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, located in Maricopa County, Arizona, has a total capacity of 4209.6 MW across three nuclear generators. The plant began operating in 1986 and is owned by Pinnacle West Capital, with Arizona Public Service Co. as the operator. It is the largest power plant in Arizona and the second-largest nuclear plant in the United States. The plant operates within the Salt River Project balancing authority and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) NERC region.
In the most recent year with available data, Palo Verde generated 31,321,808 MWh, achieving a capacity factor of 84.9%. Financial data indicates an installed cost of $1,188.14 per kW, according to FERC filings. The plant's primary fuel source is nuclear (NUC).
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
Grid Region
Mountain West
Market
WEIM Participant
NERC Region
WECC — Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Balancing Authority
2.8M MWh
Latest Month
31.3M MWh
Annual Generation
84.9%
Capacity Factor
Nuclear · Southern California Edison Company · Data from 2015–2024
$3,291/kW
Installed Cost
$23.6/MWh
Operating Cost
Annual Capital & Operating Expenses
Cumulative Installed Cost
Per-Unit Cost Trends
This plant's balancing authority participates in CAISO's Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM). Direct nodal pricing data is not yet available.
Last updated 2026-04-09
View all 10 articlesWhat's the impact of "APS makes 1st move to extend Palo Verde license" on Palo Verde?
Data-driven briefing on Palo Verde — fleet, generation, financial, and news signals.
How does Palo Verde's $3291/kW CapEx compare to similar plants?
Data-driven briefing on Palo Verde — fleet, generation, financial, and news signals.
Salt River Project (SRP)
Grid Voltage
500.0 kV
Regulatory Status
RE — Regulated
Entity Type
Investor-Owned Utility
Sector
Electric Utility