New APS Gas Plant to Satisfy Data Center Power Demand

While data centers serve a public purpose, they use a significant amount of power. Arizona Public Service plans to build a 2,000 megawatt Desert Sun Power Plant on a site west of Gila Bend. The facility is part of a new model from APS to support heightened demand from extra-large energy users.

The goal is for these extra-large users — such as data centers — to sign contracts agreeing to cover capital costs for new development projects, sparing existing residential and business customers from those costs.

APS will soon begin the competitive bidding process to select a contractor. The first phase of the Desert Sun is expected to start serving customers by 2030, while creating hundreds of construction jobs during its development.

The new plant will use natural gas from a massive new pipeline being built between Texas and Arizona that is expected to be completed by 2029.