FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Murray
(602) 549-4580
brian@azwaterenergyjobs.org
ARIZONA COALITION FOR WATER, ENERGY AND JOBS LAUNCHES TO PROTECT
ACCESS TO RELIABLE LOW-COST ENERGY AND WATER DELIVERY FOR THE STATE
PHOENIX, June 18, 2013 – A broad alliance of Arizona business leaders representing agricultural
interests, irrigation districts, developers, businesses, chambers of commerce and Navajo Nation
Chapters today announced they have formed the Arizona Coalition for Water, Energy and Jobs
to protect Arizona’s economic future and excellent quality of life by preserving access to
reliable, low-cost energy and water delivery across the state.
The Coalition, which represents more than [15,500] Arizona businesses and organizations, said
it opposes onerous regulations that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
proposed for the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) in Page, Ariz., that would deliver no
perceptible visibility improvement at the Grand Canyon based on the government’s own study.
The EPA’s proposed regional haze rule would double or triple Central Arizona Project water
costs, put at risk 3,400 jobs each year and more than $20 billion in state economic activity over
the next three decades. Every county in Arizona would be adversely impacted.
“The Navajo Generating Station is the centerpiece of the energy and water system that built
Arizona,” said Sid Wilson, former General Manager of the Central Arizona Project. “It was
created through a decades-long effort by many great Arizona leaders who recognized energy
and water were essential to the state’s very survival. It was expressly built to provide power for
energy and water delivery and create essential jobs and tribal revenues for Navajo and Hopi
people. We cannot allow this historic agreement to be unwound.”
The EPA calls for investing up to $1.1 billion in additional emission controls for the plant, yet a
study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL) disputes any visibility benefit from the added controls. Says the NREL: “…The body of
research to date is inconclusive as to whether removing approximately two-thirds of the
current NOX emissions from [the Navajo Generating Station] would lead to any perceptible
improvement in visibility at the Grand Canyon or other areas of concern.”
“All of us value Arizona’s excellent quality of life and want to preserve our open skies,” said
Wilson. But the regulations being imposed run contrary to common sense.”
-More-
ADD ONE – ARIZONA COALITION FOR WATER, ENERGY AND JOBS LAUNCHES
In analyzing the impacts to visibility from more controls, the EPA uses a flawed technical
analysis that fails to consider real world conditions impacting Grand Canyon views, such as
smog, fires and vehicle emissions from Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The EPA’s analysis only looks
at pristine natural background conditions that don’t exist, versus what is actually occurring.
“Arizona has always had a competitive advantage because of its ability to offer low-cost water
and power,” said Karrin Taylor, Board Chair of the Valley Partnership. “The Navajo Generating
Station is the heart of that system. We can’t put at risk such an important economic tool for a
rule that will deliver no benefit.”
“If water rates double or triple as the Central Arizona Project expects, the impact to Arizona’s
agriculture industry will be devastating,” said Grant Ward, representing the Maricopa-Stanfield
Irrigation & Drainage District. “Our users cannot afford those rates and will be forced to rely on
groundwater for their water supply, which creates its own set of issues.”
The Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe would be especially hard hit. Closure of NGS and the
Kayenta Mine would cost the Navajo Nation $13 billion in economic activity between 2020 and
2044, and more than 2,900 jobs each year, according to a 2013 study by Arizona State
University. Karrin Taylor called the mere suggestion of this potential “outrageous and
unconscionable.”
“NGS and the Kayenta Mine provide skilled jobs on the reservation that keep families together
and create economic stability for our people, said Name, title, of the [name] Chapter of the
Navajo Nation. “This rule will devastate us. The EPA is not properly consulting with the Navajo
as a Sovereign Nation.”
The Coalition is calling for a thoughtful and transparent EPA analysis that fully evaluates the
direct and indirect impacts of the rule. EPA’s evaluation should include study of increased
electricity rates, increased water rates, lost employment, costs to agricultural production,
Indian water rights and the impact of a reduced tax base across Arizona, among other issues.
“This is not a debate about jobs versus the environment as some would suggest,” said David
Martin, President of the Arizona Chapter of Associated General Contractors. “The EPA has yet
to thoughtfully approach the cost/benefit analysis required under the law. If the costs of this
rule exceed the benefits, and they clearly do, there would be no required retrofit.”
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The Arizona Coalition for Water, Energy and Jobs is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization organized to protect the
economic future and quality of life for Arizonans by preserving access to reliable, low-cost energy and water delivery
across the state. The Coalition has more than 20 members representing more than [15,500] Arizona businesses and
organizations, including agricultural interests, irrigation districts, developers, businesses, chambers of commerce and
Navajo Nation Chapters. For more information on the Coalition, visit
ADD TWO – ARIZONA COALITION FOR WATER, ENERGY AND JOBS LAUNCHES
Coalition Members Include:
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Arizona Cotton Growers Association
Arizona Mining Association
Arizona Multihousing Association
Associated General Contractors of Arizona
Bird Springs Chapter of the Navajo Nation
Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce
Central Arizona Irrigation Districts
East Valley Chamber of Commerce Alliance
o Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce
o Chandler Chamber of Commerce
o Gilbert Chamber of Commerce
o Mesa Chamber of Commerce
o Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce
o Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce
o Tempe Chamber of Commerce
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce
Kayenta Chapter of the Navajo Nation
Lake Havasu Chamber of Commerce
Marana Chamber of Commerce
Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation and Drainage District
Mesa Chamber of Commerce
New Magma Irrigation and Drainage District
North Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce
Peabody Energy
Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (need form)
Valley Partnership
Willcox Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture