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 As a community leader, APS understands the importance of being committed to the health of the environment and to the safety of our employees and the community. That commitment is the basis of our environmental, health and safety efforts.
Edward Z. Fox, vice president of Communications, Environment and Safety, leads a team of experienced professionals responsible for implementing the company’s EHS programs. He also provides information about the company’s EHS goals and activities to executive management and the Board of Directors.
The EHS management team consists of two committees: the Environmental Advisory Team and the Safety and Health Advisory Team. These committees develop strategies and manage and implement environmental, health and safety programs and projects. See also Management Systems.
Frontline EHS professionals handle issues that arise in the field and at company facilities. These professionals provide daily, on-the-spot attention to EHS issues. They are the backbone of the company’s EHS program and work hard to keep things operating smoothly and safely.
At the corporate level, the EHS Department consults on environmental, health and safety issues. These experts assist on complex technical and regulatory matters, develop strategies and monitor market and technological trends.
Pinnacle West’s team of EHS professionals — including a team of nurses — strives to keep the company in compliance with all regulations and on the leading edge of the best environmental, health and safety practices.
Organizational Changes
To reflect changes in the current regulatory environment and to create operating efficiencies, in 2003, APS and parent company, Pinnacle West, made a number of organizational changes that affected the structure of both companies.
Jack E. Davis, president and chief executive officer of APS and president of Pinnacle West, assumed the additional title and responsibilities of chief operating officer of Pinnacle West. Davis continues to report to Pinnacle West Chairman and CEO William J. Post.
Steve M. Wheeler, senior vice president of Regulation System Planning and Operations at APS was named executive vice president of Customer Service and Regulation for APS. He assumes the added responsibility of Customer Service.
Donald E. Brandt, senior vice president and chief financial officer for Pinnacle West and APS was named executive vice president and CFO for APS and its parent. He assumes the added responsibilities of the Controller’s office and financial planning.
Don Robinson, vice president of Finance & Planning, was named vice president of Planning for APS. He will be responsible for corporate planning.
Additionally, Corporate Business Services, reporting to Executive Vice President Armando Flores, were moved from Pinnacle West to APS.
Departments within Corporate Business Services include:
Information Services
Human Resources Services
Corporate Environmental, Health & Safety
Corporate Communications
Community Development
Corporate Security
Real Estate/Facility Management
Real Estate/Facility Management and Corporate Security now report to Edward Z. Fox vice president Communications, Environmental and Safety.
Industry Participation
APS maintains membership in the Edison Electric Institute and the Electric Power Research Institute. Many of our employees participate in professional and business associations covering every function of our business, including accounting; purchasing; environmental, health and safety; human resources; public relations; engineering and electrical trades.
Technical Research
Looking to the future is fundamental to the health of our company and to the vitality of our state. That is why we strive to further our expertise in technical areas. From conducting research on renewable technologies to finding innovative ways to work more efficiently, we consistently seek ways to incorporate the cleanest and most cost-effective technology into our processes. We also support and sponsor a variety of research activities devoted to leading-edge technologies at educational institutions and company facilities.
This is most evident at the APS Solar Test and Research Center (STAR), which houses much of the world’s most-advanced solar technologies. At STAR, APS tests and evaluates the effectiveness of new technologies, while fine-tuning and developing its own proprietary designs. By supporting industry efforts, APS aims to help develop technology that can make an impact on our energy future. We also partner with Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University to collect performance data from our solar generating facilities.
The company continues to explore the use of hydrogen as fuel in combustion engines. APS’ hydrogen and compressed natural gas fueling station in downtown Phoenix is used by employees and contracted companies, and offers hydrogen, compressed natural gas and a compressed natural gas-hydrogen blend. Tests of the Compressed Natural Gas/Hydrogen (CNG/H) fuel have shown improved vehicle performance with lower air emissions.
In 2003, APS’ Hydrogen/Compressed Natural Gas fueling station received Valley Forward’s Crescordia Environmental Excellence Award. APS was the sole recipient in the Environmental Technologies “Private Sector” category.
With these actions, the company is positioning itself to be a leader in developing cost-effective, clean energy sources for the future. Our Renewable Energy and Technologies section offers more information on our companies' sustainability efforts.
Other Technologies
Biomass
We believe in finding innovative ways to solve complex problems. For example, APS recently helped bring on line a three-megawatt biomass-fueled electric-generating plant which helps reduce forest waste plaguing our northeastern Arizona communities.
Built in partnership with Western Renewable Energy (WRE), the Arizona plant turns forest waste from our state's bark beetle infestations, forest fire prevention initiatives and other vegetation waste into clean electricity. This biomass plant will not only generate energy from a renewable source, it will help APS reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while reducing future forest fire threats.
This power plant and additional biomass plants planned for other northern Arizona locations are just one aspect of APS’ efforts to meet the Environmental Portfolio Standard (EPS) established by the Arizona Corporation Commission. The EPS requires 1.1 percent of the company’s retail energy to be derived from renewable sources by 2007.
In addition to cleaner air and healthier forests, these biomass plants are creating jobs in northern Arizona. To increase awareness of the biomass project among school-aged children, APS and WRE sponsored a poster and essay contest in the area schools.
Solar Trough Technology
APS is building a one-megawatt solar trough technology plant at its Saguaro Generating Station near Tucson. Once completed, the $6 million project will be the first solar trough technology plant to be built in the United States since 1988 and the first to combine solar thermal parabolic trough technology with a power block technology usually associated with geothermal installations.
Solar thermal parabolic trough technology uses long parabolic or trough-shaped mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy 30 to 60 times its normal intensity on a mineral oil-filled receiver pipe that runs the length of each trough.
The build-out costs on this project are expected to be comparable to a photovoltaic plant of the same size. APS plans to operate the plant remotely, thus minimizing operating costs. Our goal is to run the plant at $.03 per kilowatt hour. The Saguaro solar plant is expected to be completed early in 2005 and will help APS meet its Environmental Portfolio Standard.
Wind Power
After months mapping the state’s wind resources, APS and Western Wind Energy Corp. (WND) have partnered to build a 15-megawatt wind turbine generating facility approximately 200 miles northeast of Phoenix, near St. John’s.
WND will construct and operate the Eastern Arizona Wind Energy Center on 400 acres of land it owns. APS will purchase the power - enough for up to 3,000 average-size homes, and acquire the associated green credits. Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in late 2004.
The Eastern Arizona Wind Energy Center will be located atop a mesa approximately 800 feet higher than the surrounding lands. The wind farm will consist of ten 1.5-megawatt machines.
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