The three-unit pressurized water reactor station in the desert west of Phoenix, Arizona, with a nameplate capacity of 3,937 megawatts, its units entering commercial operation between 1986 and 1988 under operator Arizona Public Service. Long the largest American nuclear plant, it was passed in capacity by the four-unit Vogtle in 2024 but still generates the second most electricity of any US power plant in a year, and it is the only large nuclear plant in the world not sited near a large body of water, cooled instead with treated wastewater.
Facts
Facility Type LocationWintersburg, west of Phoenix, Arizona, United States 2 Capacity (MW)Nameplate capacity; net output is about 3,810 MW. Commissioned YearUnits 1 and 2 entered commercial operation in 1986, Unit 3 in 1988. Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
Uses Source
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationPalo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, openingQuote, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, opening
Palo Verde generates the second most electricity of any power plant in the United States per year
1. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationPalo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, HistoryQuote, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, History
Units 1 and 2 went into commercial operation in 1986 and Unit 3 in 1988.
1. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationPalo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, infoboxQuote, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, infobox
3937 MW
1. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Pressurized Water Reactor, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, DescriptionQuote, Associated With: Pressurized Water Reactor, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Description
Arizona Public Service (APS) owns 29.1% of, and operates the plant.
2. Maricopa County Official Site
Maricopa County ArizonaPVGS public information pageQuote, PVGS public information page
approximately 55 miles west of downtown Phoenix near the community of Wintersburg, Arizona
United States Energy Information Administration Official Site
US Energy Information AdministrationAssociated With: Vogtle Units 3 and 4, Today in Energy, Vogtle Unit 4 commercial operationQuote, Associated With: Vogtle Units 3 and 4, Today in Energy, Vogtle Unit 4 commercial operation
making Vogtle's four units the largest nuclear power plant in the United States
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