An ambitious project by Salt River Project (SRP) suggests a future where the Arizona desert blooms with more than cacti—an immense new lake designed for pumped storage hydropower could be on the horizon. A report from 12News reveals that this additional lake, currently without a name, is expected to generate an impressive 2000 megawatts of power. To put that in perspective, it's far beyond what the existing Salt River Lakes can muster collectively. Nestled between Roosevelt and Apache Lakes, this new addition could potentially power hundreds of thousands of homes.
Meanwhile, there is a significant twist to the water tale, with the SRP operating a dam already at Mormon Flat that functions akin to a colossal battery, as reported by KJZZ News. Water pumped uphill from Saguaro Lake during times of energy surplus is released to produce power when needed, bolstering the state's electricity storage, especially with increased investment in solar power. SRP principal engineer Eric Hannoush has emphasized the importance of storage, noting, "It can take that energy that’s generated during the day when customers don’t necessarily need it and store it for the nighttime," addressing the drop-off in solar power during evening hours.
Significant too is the growth this project represents for SRP's renewable energy production and storage. Their goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 entails a tripling of renewable power output and a corresponding increase in storage capacity by 2035. By constructing this pumped storage hydropower system, the utility would gain between 1,000 and 2,000 megawatts of capacity, dwarfing their current 150-megawatt combined capacity at Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa Dams. The proposed project shines not just for its capacity to provide power but also for its projected longevity. "The benefit of pumped storage is we expect this to be a centurylong resource," Hannoush told KJZZ News, pointing out the economic advantages over batteries that frequently need replacing.
However, before transforming this vision into reality, SRP must navigate through numerous regulatory hoops and public opinion. Projected to satisfy the needs of approximately 450,000 homes for 10 hours per pump cycle, the utility is set to hold stakeholder meetings and open houses this April to discuss the project's progress and solicit community feedback. Yet concerns over environmental impact loom large, as conservation chair Don Steuter of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter conveyed to KJZZ News; the project demands a careful analysis given the untouched nature of the selected sites.
As utility companies scramble to meet Arizona's skyrocketing power demands fueled by population booms and industrial growth, SRP's proposed lake could be a keystone in a state famed for its fierce summers and energy-hungry residents. SRP's anticipated construction kickoff in 2027 and operational aim set for 2033 shore up their strategy not only for sustainability but also for keeping pace with the scorching demand for power in a climate-changed future.
