Energy Mix
SSVEC has seen major changes in our energy mix over the last few years
In 2016 over 80% of our energy was produced by coal, and in 2024 it is down to 26%. With the new hoover power contracts, our hydro power has increased from 5.2% to 6.3%. Power from natural gas has increased from 3% to over 43%.
Solar has gone from almost nothing to over 12% with the addition of our second large solar field with battery backup. This percentage does not include homes and businesses that have rooftop solar, nor the SSVEC Solar for Schools project, where SSVEC installed solar shade structures at all area schools. The schools keep the electricity that is produced. We also have several other projects in the pipeline to continue to increase the renewable percentage, and we are doing it in a way that is cost effective, reliable, and safe. These will include some large-scale battery projects.
Our purchase of power on the open market, which is mostly from natural gas, increased from just over 11% in 2016 to over 12% in 2024. Our power supplier, Arizona Power Electric Cooperative also has several other projects in the planning stages to continue to increase the amount of power they provide to SSVEC that is cost effective, reliable, and safe.
