Back to Top

About us

Services

Members

News

Facts

Welcome To

Mohave Energy Park

Mohave energy Park

Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (AEPCO) (also known as Arizona G&T Cooperatives) and Mohave Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MEC) are partnering to plan for the future of MEC’s service territory. Together, the not-for-profit Cooperatives will construct four new quick start natural gas generating units at Mohave Energy Park (MEP). The new natural gas generating units will provide reliable, affordable energy for AEPCO and MEC members.

AEPCO is the generation, transmission, and energy services provider for electric distribution cooperative utilities, including MEC.

MEC is a member-owner of AEPCO and serves as the local distribution service provider and operator in the Mohave County area.

Cooperative Goals

Maintaining
Affordability

Quick start, flexible natural gas generation will help stabilize the grid with on-demand electricity that supplements power from renewables, such as solar energy. A more stable energy supply means more predictable and affordable energy for MEC members.

Ensuring
Compliance

The development and construction of Mohave Energy Park is subject to Federal, State, and County reviews. AEPCO has received the necessary regulatory approvals to commence site preparation.

Providing Safe &
Reliable Energy

Natural gas is a flexible energy resource that provides reliable service when renewables like solar are not available. The natural gas generating units at Mohave Energy Park will help protect public safety by meeting the demand for electricity in our region, even during severe weather events.

Supporting Economic Development for Rural Communities

The construction of the new natural-gas fired electric generating station will provide an economic boost to the Mohave region. The project is expected to introduce approximately $10 million in local economic lift during the construction phase and will generate property taxes that are estimated to be nearly $5 million from 2025 through 2036.

A Strategic Location

The Mohave Energy Park is located in Mohave Valley, Arizona, near existing electrical and natural gas infrastructure. The selection of the project location was based upon:

• Sufficient land and water rights
• Access and proximity to natural gas pipelines
• Access and proximity to MEC infrastructure to ensure power for MEC’s electric load

Multiple potential locations were evaluated to determine whether they met AEPCO and MEC’s criteria to supply and deliver safe, reliable power and had adequate existing resources.

ANTICIPATED
PROJECT TIMELINE

  • Planning & Zoning Meeting — 10.09.2024
    Board of Supervisors Meeting — 11.04.2024
  • Permitting/Approval Processes — 2024-2026
  • Engineering and Design — 2025-2026
  • Construction, Testing, and Commissioning — 2026-2028
    Facility Operational — 2028

WHY NATURAL GAS?

AEPCO has determined that the least-cost solution for meeting Cooperative members’ near- and mid-term load growth and peak demand needs is a combination of solar energy, battery energy storage, and quick-start natural gas turbines. These units will compliment both MEC and AEPCO’s already constructed and operating solar and battery energy storage resources north of Mohave Energy Park in Fort Mohave, AZ.

Facility Details

AEPCO is constructing four, simple-cycle, natural gas turbines (LM6000s) and each turbine is capable of generating up to 49 megawatts of electricity as based upon the elevation of the Mohave Energy Park site. Throughout the year, the maximum output can vary slightly due to changes in temperature and humidity.

Each natural gas turbine is also capable of ramping up from zero production to full production within 10 minutes. That means these turbines are extremely quick and flexible in responding to meet peak demand, or to respond in different system conditions, like cloudy days or extreme weather, when solar is not available. These turbines are not designed to run around-the-clock like larger steam generators or combined-cycle natural gas generators.

Natural Gas Energy
Natural gas turbines can vary output levels to meet any system condition, including emergencies and extreme weather. The natural gas generating units at Mohave Energy Park will add quick-starting and fast-ramping power generation resources that can smooth out fluctuations often seen in solar generation, especially during cloudy conditions, to ensure consistent, reliable power to MEC.
Each gas turbine added as part of the Mohave Energy Park project will be capable of rapid starts and can quickly adjust to match changing electricity demand across the Mohave region. In addition, the flexibility of this technology allows AEPCO to operate turbines as needed, when needed, in addition to the existing generating resources.
Delivering Reliable Electricity

Energy from Mohave Energy Park will flow into a new electric substation located on the property and will be delivered through MEC’s sub-transmission line to Cooperative members. AEPCO has experience the LM6000 technology, with three generating units in operation at AEPCO’s Apache Generating Station, plus over 60 years of natural gas generation experience.

Facility Components

In addition to simple-cycle, natural gas generating units, the Mohave Energy Park site will include:
• Emissions controls and continuous emissions monitoring equipment
• Water treatment system and building, water storage tanks and evaporation pond
• Substation and associated electric interconnections
• Natural gas metering station and pipeline infrastructure
• Administration building and warehouse

Sub-Transmission Line

A sub-transmission line will be used to deliver energy from the Mohave Energy Park to Mohave Electric Cooperative members.

Natural Gas Pipeline

MEC and AEPCO are working with a natural gas transporter to secure the delivery of natural gas to the generating units at Mohave Energy Park.

Substation

A new substation is being constructed to aid in the delivery of power to MEC members.

Environment

The health and wellbeing of our members and community are paramount. That is why MEC and AEPCO are utilizing Best in Class turbine technology and are installing emissions controls, monitoring, and detection equipment. The natural gas generating units will undergo all applicable county, federal and state permitting processes. AEPCO must file for and receive necessary permits to ensure future operations comply with applicable standards. This process is designed to protect the public health.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service has completed its environmental review of the project and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact.

Desert photo with blue sky

Environmental Considerations for the Mohave Energy Park:

FACILITY
WATER USAGE

The Mohave Energy Park will use an efficient air-cooling system that requires much less water usage than other technologies and other types of generation units. The facility will operate using two existing groundwater wells that are registered through the Arizona Department of Water Resources. The Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District (MVIDD) has approved the transfer and conversion of existing water rights for use at Mohave Energy Park. The allocation is sufficient to operate and maintain Mohave Energy Park now and into the future.

Air Quality

The new natural gas generating units will be equipped with air emissions controls, which reduce NOx emissions by 90% and CO emissions by 95%. The units will also include air inlet filtration which removes ambient particulate matter before entering the natural gas turbine and continuous emissions monitoring systems.

Sound

The Mohave Energy Park project is committed to following applicable guidance and will utilize silencing technology as necessary. Pictured are predictive sound modeling contours.

Site D Sound Contour

Lighting

The facility will have exterior lighting for safety and security. All outdoor light fixtures will be installed according to Mohave County requirements.

Project Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Mohave Energy Park Project FAQS

Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) and Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) are community-based, not-for-profit electric utilities. As Cooperatives, AEPCO and MEC strive to make decisions that are in the best interest of our member-owners and the communities we have served for numerous decades.

When deciding how to meet the rapidly growing electricity needs of the area, the AEPCO examined which generating resources could most reliably and cost-effectively meet our increasing demand for electricity. As a result of that review, AEPCO determined that adding natural gas generating resources was the best option to meet near-term regional and local demand for electricity in Mohave County, Arizona. In addition, in an MEC member opinion survey conducted in 2023, members overwhelmingly chose natural gas as their preferred choice for future power generation.

Below you will find answers explaining why installing natural gas generating units is the best solution to provide reliable, affordable and sustainable power into the future.

View FAQS by Topic

Why is AEPCO developing the Mohave Energy Park?

AEPCO is responsible for developing new reliable generation resources to meet growing demand for electricity in the areas they serve. When deciding on the best plan to address this demand, AEPCO examined which generating resources could both meet increasing demand for electricity and would improve local reliability, especially to support critical public services. As a result of that review, the Cooperatives determined that installing efficient simple-cycle natural gas generating units in Mohave County was the best option to meet near and long-term demand in the region.

In addition, together with our renewable solar and battery energy storage projects located in Fort Mohave, the simple-cycle generating units at Mohave Energy Park will help transition the Cooperatives to a diversified energy portfolio, resulting in a more efficient, reliable and cost-effective mix of
generation resources.

How much growth in demand for electricity are AEPCO’s Member Cooperatives experiencing?

The Member Cooperatives continue to see a strong member demand for electricity. The MEC service territory continues to see a population increase and is experiencing industrial and manufacturing growth from large companies establishing and expanding operations in the region.

This growth causes peak electricity demand to increase, resulting in the need for additional generating capacity to meet these needs. A combination of this growth and the region's overall resource constraints means that without proper planning and the development of new generating capacity, it will be a challenge for MEC to reliability meet the demand for electricity in the very near future.

How does growing demand contribute to resource constraints?

AEPCO participated in an Energy and Environmental Economics (E3) study with other utilities to assess the resource adequacy situation in the Desert Southwest region now and in the future under various stress scenarios. The E3 study concluded that the Southwest is facing “a significant and urgent need” for new power resources due to growing demand for electricity. The need to build resources, such as the four natural gas generating units at Mohave Energy Park, is supported by the study to ensure continued reliability.

Supply chain disruptions and other issues are also contributing to energy constraints. The U.S. Department of Commerce investigation has shown negatively impacted solar panel supply chains, resulting in a substantial risk of delays and cost increases for new projects. Lithium costs are volatile, and the supply chain for batteries is also experiencing challenges, resulting in potential delays and higher costs.

How much power will the Mohave Energy Park provide?

AEPCO is constructing natural gas turbines (LM6000s) at Mohave Energy Park, and each turbine is capable of generating up to 49 megawatts of electricity based upon the elevation of the project site. That maximum output can vary slightly during the year due to changes in temperature and humidity. Each natural gas turbine is also capable of ramping up from zero production to full production within 10 minutes. That means these turbines are extremely quick and flexible in responding to meet peak demand, or to respond in different system conditions, like cloudy days or extreme weather. These turbines, however, are not designed to run around-the-clock like larger steam generators or combined-cycle natural gas generators.

The energy produced will be used within our service territory and community. It will not be contracted for sale to other states.

How does the Mohave Energy Park enable the addition of more renewables?

Along with increased solar generation comes increased variability in power output, especially during cloudy conditions. The natural gas generating units at Mohave Energy Park will add quick-starting and fast-ramping power generation resources that can smooth out these fluctuations and ensure the delivery of consistent, reliable power to members.

Each gas turbine added as part of the Mohave Energy Park will be capable of rapid starts (within 10 minutes) and can quickly adjust to match changing electricity demand and intermittent renewable energy across the Mohave region.

Why doesn’t AEPCO and MEC add batteries instead of natural gas in Mohave County?

In 2024, one of AEPCO’s battery storage projects was completed in Fort Mohave. More battery storage projects are anticipated in the coming years.

While AEPCO and their Member Cooperatives, including MEC, have already added a significant amount of battery storage throughout the service territories, adding additional storage must be done strategically. Although battery storage helps to improve the performance of solar facilities by shifting some of the solar energy to hours when there is more demand for electricity, batteries are not a substitute for flexible natural gas turbines that can be tapped at any time. Natural gas turbines can vary output levels to meet any system condition, including emergencies and extreme weather.

When AEPCO considers investing in a new power generation resource, we carefully consider alternatives in the context of reliability. As a result, we are committed to incorporating battery storage safely and appropriately to help meet the energy needs of our members and community, while also incorporating new efficient natural gas turbines to diversify our power portfolio to improve reliability.

Are the natural gas generating units at Mohave Energy Park the lowest-cost resource for cooperative members?

In evaluating options for the Mohave Energy Park, we used commercially available planning models to determine whether we could build the least-cost portfolio that could achieve the same reliability as the proposed natural gas units at the Mohave Energy Park. The results of the modeling indicated that the least-cost solution for meeting near and mid-term load growth and peaking needs was a combination of solar combined with natural gas turbines and potentially some additional battery storage installations in the future. A sole source of any one energy type is very costly.

Of the generation alternatives studied, the natural gas generating units provide the best option to provide the flexibility necessary to ensure reliable power delivery. Even when modeling other scenarios, including higher natural gas prices and lower battery costs, natural gas turbines were selected to meet the flexibility needs required to ensure reliability.

As a result, AEPCO’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan analysis demonstrates that installing natural gas generating units at Mohave Energy Park are the most prudent and practical decision, and it also is the best economic decision that provides the most value to Cooperative members.

What does the plant look like and how will it impact the skyline?

The Mohave Energy Park sits amongst the foothills of Mohave Valley, adjacent to agricultural land. The new natural gas generating units will have stacks 65 feet tall. These stacks will be significantly lower than those on the local South Point Energy Center on Courtwright Road, which are 225 feet tall.

How does the plant impact the adjacent neighborhoods?

The project location was selected not only to have access to MEC's electrical infrastructure, natural gas and water supply, proximity to existing solar fields, but also for its rural location with no residential structures being closer than a mile. The feasibility and cost of site construction were also taken into consideration to reduce the overall cost of the project and potential impacts to the nearby communities.

How are cooperatives working with neighboring communities?

Cooperatives are founded on seven principles including Concern for Community. Together, AEPCO and MEC, have been sharing information with the community through townhalls, meetings, community events, advertisements, websites, and social media. We welcome public feedback and input on this project.

What economic benefits will the project provide?

Completion of the Mohave Energy Park project has and will continue to afford short-term benefits to local labor force and also to the local economy. The local economy will benefit from an increased need for housing, food, and services to support the overall construction workforce.

The construction process will include local, cost-competitive vendors of commodities and rental equipment. Any employees traveling for construction purposes will boost local economies through their travel, lodging, and meals. The project is expected to introduce approximately $10 million in local economic lift during the construction phase.

Additionally, on a long-term basis, AEPCO expects to employ up to five full-time equivalent jobs to operate, secure, and maintain the facility.

The Mohave Energy Park represents a substantial investment in the Mohave area and will generate property taxes that are estimated to be nearly $5 million from 2025 through 2036.

Will any environmental permits be required?

Yes, the Mohave Energy Park will comply with all local, state, and federal air quality and environmental regulations that protect the health and wellbeing of the community. AEPCO is utilizing best in class turbine technology and will incorporate air emission controls, monitoring, and detection systems to ensure the health and safety of all.

How will this impact air quality and health?

The new natural gas turbines at Mohave Energy Park will comply with all local, state and federal air quality regulations, including requirements under the Clean Air Act. AEPCO has filed for a Class I Air Quality Permit, which will ensure that ongoing operations comply with these air quality standards. The final air quality permit will be a federally enforceable document containing applicable emission limits and standards that Mohave Energy Park is responsible for meeting, and will contain recordkeeping, monitoring and reporting conditions necessary to demonstrate compliance with all applicable requirements.

This process is designed to protect the public, including sensitive populations such as children and the elderly, from adverse health effects and to provide public welfare protection, including protection against decreased visibility and impacts to animals, crops, vegetation and buildings.

How much water will the Mohave Energy Park use?

The project will utilize simple-cycle, aero-derivative natural gas turbine technology. It does not rely on steam to produce power, and does not require water cooling, so it uses significantly less water than other types of generation. In fact, the new natural gas turbines at Mohave Energy Park will require about 1% of the water used in traditional steam plant operations or about 7% of the water used in water-cooled combined-cycle natural gas plant operation. What water is consumed will be used primarily for emission controls.

What factors did cooperatives consider when selecting the Turbine Technology?

AEPCO selected the LM6000 aero-derivative turbine technology for the Mohave Energy Park based on the following factors: cost, reliability, flexibility, minimal environmental impact, and operational experience.

The LM6000 turbines are flexible resources that allow the integration of more renewables into the power system and meet local electric capacity shortages. They can start up and change output quickly to support the variability of the system. In addition, the flexibility of this technology allows us to operate just one or both turbines when needed.

The LM6000 model is an industry leader in reliability with over 40 million operating hours and over 99% reliability. In addition, AEPCO has experience with the LM6000 technology, providing operational familiarity and common spare parts to reduce maintenance costs.

AEPCO and MEC must reliably meet near-term capacity needs, and the LM6000 turbines are available to provide power when needed, including during outages of other units, transmission line outages, or when limited-duration resources such as hydropower and battery resources are unavailable.

How will the public be involved in the development of the Mohave Energy Park?

The public has been involved since the beginning in this multi-year project. We have been sharing information with the community through townhalls, meetings, community events, advertisements, websites, and social media. In addition, the various permitting processes have included an opportunity for further public input.

MOHAVE ENERGY PARK
MYTHS VS FACTS

Know the Facts
Solar + Battery + Natural Gas = Reliability & Affordability

The natural gas turbines are the most cost-effective power supply to meet MEC’s load growth.

Fact. MEC forecasts a load growth that cannot be covered by existing energy sources, approximately 30 – 60 MW of dedicated power to avoid paying for this power in the open market. This affects reliability and affordability. Power purchased from the open market is more expensive.

The natural gas turbines are more cost-effective than solar power.

Fact. Solar cannot produce power at night or when it rains. Essentially, solar has two costs – what it costs to build a solar field plus the cost to purchase power when there is no solar energy available for use.

AEPCO and MEC complete an Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) every three years for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC).

Fact. The plans for solar, battery energy storage systems, and natural gas turbines were included in the 2017, 2020, and 2023 IRPs. The 2026 IRP will be completed in late 2026.

AEPCO and MEC completed multiple Request for Proposals (RFP) on the most cost-effective and reliable power options.

Fact. AEPCO follows the Arizona Administrative Code procurement methods approved by the ACC. AEPCO and MEC conducted multiple solicitations. The All-Source RFP was completed in 2023; the combination of solar, battery, and natural gas turbines were the most affordable option while providing the most reliable power supply. The first solar, battery storage, and LM6000 resources have already been built throughout AEPCO’s service territory.

The electric power equivalent to 19,000 households and businesses is at risk for power outages if Mohave Energy Park isn’t built or MEC has to buy expensive power on the market affecting rates.

Fact. MEC is short 30 MW of dedicated power which equates to approximately 9,500 homes and businesses being short of power. Also, MEC’s existing 30 MW of solar and battery does not provide sufficient power at night and during rainy weather, which adds another 9,500 homes and businesses that can only use “temporary power.” This situation could lead to an outage.

9,500 + 9,500 = 19,000 homes without power

The current energy markets cannot be relied upon for power supply or to be available at an affordable cost.

 

AEPCO is going to sell the power from Mohave Energy Park to California.

Myth. The generating facility is not being built to sell power to California; the facility will serve MEC and AEPCO. All power sales and transactions between or across electric utilities utilize a transaction tagging process regulated by federal agencies and reported to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to track the physical path of energy. They have trackable sales and can be audited to prove that power from Mohave Energy Park was sold to MEC.

Power Plants can’t be built within 3 miles of residential housing.

Myth. There are more than 3,000 existing power plants today within 3 miles or less of housing. Power plants are permitted and built all over the country even as close as 500 feet or less from housing. Current site plans show that MEP will be more than 5,280 feet away from nearest residence.

EPA requires power plants to be 3 miles away from housing.

Myth. EPA allows power plants to be built within 3 miles of residential areas. EPA does not have a minimum distance requirement between a power plant and residential area. EPA's recommended 3-Mile radius is used to define the area around the power plant. EPA's “EJ screen” tool was used for the MEP and no issues were identified for the proposed project within the 3-mile boundary.

Power Plants cannot be built next to residential areas.

Myth. Residential areas often closely neighbor power generating facilities. There are at least 10 existing power plants in Arizona that are ½ mile or less from houses. The average power plant in AZ is 2,493 ft. from housing. MEP will be greater than 5,280 feet away from nearest housing.

There are better project site locations by the County landfill, State land, or BLM land.

Myth. At the time when project sites were being evaluated, there was no available land at or near the County landfill site. The project inquired with the Mohave County Manager's office in February and May 2024 whether land was available for the project. The County confirmed that there was no land available. Additionally, at that time, the project team reached out to the Arizona State Land Department and Bureau of Land Management to inquire about land availability near the landfill. However, other developers had already filed applications for long term leases and special land use permits for projects on thousands of acres in the area and those applications were already under review, which made this land unavailable to AEPCO. In talks with natural gas providers, AEPCO was told it wasn't feasible to supply the gas to these properties.

Mohave Energy Park cannot be built in Fort Mohave near Antoinette Ave.

Myth. MEC received approvals from the Board of Supervisors for this site ("Site A") and could start construction of the natural gas turbines up to August 31, 2025.

The Mohave Valley Site was selected because of the surrounding land values.

Myth. The site options were selected for their location to existing electrical infrastructure, water resources, natural gas infrastructure, while also being private, previously disturbed land available for purchase with the greatest distance from residences.

The Mohave Valley site is preferred by AEPCO and MEC over the original Fort Mohave.

Fact. Based on input from the Board of Supervisors and the Community, the Mohave Valley site is preferred and still meets the needs of being near existing electrical infrastructure, water and natural gas resources, while providing a larger buffer to nearby residences versus the Fort Mohave site.

If the Mohave Valley site does not move forward, AEPCO and MEC can build on the Antoinette Ave. Site.

Fact. The approvals for the natural gas turbines are still in effect for the site off Antoinette Ave in Fort Mohave.

The project will not build out the entirety of the AEPCO-owned property.

Fact. AEPCO purchased more property than was needed to support the footprint of the natural gas generating facility. AEPCO went before the Mohave County Board of Supervisors to rezone 193 acres to meet the needs of the proposed project.

Mohave Energy Park (MEP) is an industrial park.

Myth. Mohave Energy Park is a 4-unit, simple-cycle natural gas generating facility with supporting infrastructure. The facility provides a long-term plan for energy reliability and affordability by introducing natural gas generating resources near existing solar and battery storage resources in one regional area. The solar and battery storage resources are located in Fort Mohave, Arizona.

The natural gas project will not affect public health.

Fact. Emissions are 90%+ lower than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards set to protect public health.

The natural gas project is going to negatively affect air quality.

Myth. The project will be regulated by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and will utilize Best in Class Air Emission Controls. Emissions are projected to be 98% lower than National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) provides a public notification and input process on the air permit associated with the project.

Fact. As part of the air permit application process, ADEQ issued the draft air permit for public comment and held a public hearing in Mohave Valley, Arizona.

The natural gas turbines are going to use too much water.

Myth. The natural gas turbines will use approximately 60% less water than the current amount allowed for agriculture farming uses.

The natural gas project is going to take my well water.

Myth. AEPCO purchased existing water rights from the previous land owners. As a result, water that would be used for the Mohave Energy Park project was already allocated to the properties and accounted for through the Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District (MVIDD). Per compliance with MVIDD, AEPCO must monitor water usage and submit monthly reports.

The project sites have sufficient water supply.

Fact. When AEPCO purchased the land for Mohave Energy Park, the sale also included existing water rights for those properties. The water allocations associated with the properties are sufficient to operate and maintain Mohave Energy Park now and into the future. After working with hydrologists and completing onsite due diligence activities, AEPCO determined that two existing groundwater wells located on the property would supply adequate water for the project and usage would be within the allocated water rights.

The natural gas project is going to pollute my well water.

Myth.The project will not affect the water quality of your wells because any process water produced during operation will be directed into lined pond(s) with a leak detection and collection system. Protection of the groundwater is overseen by ADEQ through issuance of the Aquifer Protection Permit.

The natural gas turbines are as loud as jet engines!

Myth. LM6000 natural gas units use aero-derivative technology to process fuel efficiently, and they also have sound controls, unlike jet engines that do not have sound controls. The natural gas units come equipped from the manufacturer with package sound suppression (air intake and vent silencers) and multi-stage stack silencing baffles. Sound modeling shows that any sound at nearby residences will comply with the EPA threshold for public health and welfare.

Sierra Club says Demand Side Management (DSM) / Energy Efficiency programs are effective at shaving peak loads.

Myth. DSM programs are based on voluntary participation where customers / members would make changes to their private property to reduce their energy usage and therefore the utilities energy loads. Without having control or requiring participation there is a nominal reduction compared to total power usage.

MEC has a history of rolling black outs / brown outs.

Myth. MEC has never deliberately caused large power outages due to lack of power. MEC opts to buy the power, often times expensively, on the market, rather than having rolling blackouts. However, there are limits on how much power is available on the open market. That's why the MEP is needed.