Arizona Public Service (APS) has notified the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of its intent to renew the operating licenses for all three units at Palo Verde Generating Station, which could extend operations from the mid-2040s through the mid-2060s. 

Located west of Phoenix, Palo Verde has the capacity to produce 4,200 MW, and is the largest power generator in the western United States.

In the 1980s, the NRC licensed Palo Verde’s nuclear units to operate for 40 years. In 2011, the NRC approved APS’s renewal application to extend the operating licenses 20 years, allowing the three units to operate through the mid-2040s. Last week, APS filed a Notice of Intent to submit a Subsequent License Renewal Application to the NRC in late-2027. The application will seek to renew Palo Verde’s operating license for an additional 20 years, allowing Unit 1 to operate through 2065, Unit 2 through 2066 and Unit 3 through 2067.

A license renewal for APS would extend Palo Verde’s life to 80 years. APS is following the NRC’s established license renewal process, which has resulted in renewing licenses to 80 years for 10 stations across the country. The NRC is currently reviewing applications for three stations.  

As Arizona continues to grow and energy needs increase, in addition to seeking license extensions for Palo Verde, APS is assessing new nuclear technologies and leading a collaborative effort with Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to explore and advance additional nuclear generation in the state. In 2025, the utilities teamed up to apply for a grant with the U.S. Department of Energy for funding to support the evaluation of possible sites. While awaiting a decision, the three utilities are considering multiple types of nuclear energy solutions, including small modular reactors and large reactor projects. 

Palo Verde is unique as the only nuclear power plant in the world that does not have access to a surface body of water. It uses 100% recycled wastewater from surrounding cities for cooling. It is operated by APS and owned by seven utilities: APS, SRP, El Paso Electric, Southern California Edison (SCE), Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).