Facility Conservation

Pinnacle West believes that wise and efficient use of energy is an essential component of our environmental  performance. To reduce energy use and emissions, our facilities implement a variety of energy efficiency measures including:

• Operating air conditioning systems with energy efficiency software that manages duty-cycling and set-backs
• Replacing outdated air conditioning with high-efficiency equipment
• Writing all new construction specifications with energy efficiency in mind
• Specifying energy-efficient Energy Star computers whenever new computer equipment is needed

More than 97 percent of our facility space is equipped with energy efficient fixtures. We estimate energy savings of more than 13 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year from the use of energy efficient products.

Water is one of our most precious resources and APS facilities are sensitive to the need to minimize water usage. Examples of water conservation activities include recycling water in power plant cooling towers several times before discharging, adapting evaporative coolers to reduce blow-down at large facilities and capturing car wash water as well as other recycling where feasible. Our Redhawk Plant, like the Palo Verde Nuclear Generation Station, uses effluent for cooling. Our Silverhawk Plant was designed with new dry-cooling technologies, which minimize the use of potable water.

Travel Reduction
In 2002, Pinnacle West was a finalist for an Outstanding Clean Air Campaign Program Award in the Phoenix-metro area.

This recognition was based on the company’s extensive travel reduction program. Travel reduction is an important part of our EHS program, particularly in the Phoenix area — a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) non-attainment area for ozone, particulate matter and carbon monoxide. We encourage employee travel reduction activity and offer subsidies to further persuade our employees of the value of travel reduction. Our subsidies include discounts on vanpool and public and private bus fares, as well as free parking for carpools. We accommodate compressed workweeks, alternative work schedules, telecommuting and videoconferencing.

In 2002, we conducted an annual travel reduction program survey of 4,616 employees at six of our sites. We implemented an electronic version of this survey at two of our sites. The overall survey results indicated that over 2,000* employees participated in the travel reduction program in 2002.

*2002 numbers have been corrected to eliminate double counting of employees who participate in more than one travel reduction program.

Land Use and Biodiversity
Our power plant cooling lakes often become habitats for migratory birds and recreation spots for residents. The lakes at the Four Corners and Cholla power plants host a variety of bird species. Cholla Lake at the Cholla Power Plant is used for water skiing and boating while Morgan Lake at the Four Corners Power Plant is a popular spot for windsurfing and fishing.

Unfortunately, the Cholla Lake experienced a large die-off of the fish population during the summer of 2002. Investigations concluded that dissolved oxygen levels in the lake dropped off dramatically leading to the fish kill. An algae bloom combined with unusually hot weather  is believed to be the cause of the oxygen depletion. Cholla personnel are working on a plan with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and other agencies to restore the lake habitat.

APS employees, volunteers from wildlife rehabilitation organizations and the Arizona Game and Fish Department teamed to construct 32 nests for burrowing owls near the Redhawk Power Plant west of the Phoenix area. The owl habitats were built to offer home for birds that had been displaced by development in the growing Phoenix area.

Found throughout the grasslands and deserts of western North America, Central and South America, these diminutive birds make their homes in underground burrows abandoned by other animals. While the burrowing owl is not endangered, much of its natural habitat is being encroached upon by development and its population is shrinking.

In 2002, Pinnacle West worked on a cooperative project with the National Wild Turkey Federation, the US Forest Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department to enhance wildlife habitat. Vegetation planted within fenced areas along our transmission line corridors in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest will supply forage and cover for wildlife, and improve habitat quality for wild turkeys and other wildlife.

Fleet Fuel Consumption

Fleet Statistics

* In 2002, we maintained 33 electric vehicles in our fleet.