**APS Plans Massive New Gas Plant to Power Data Center Growth**
Arizona Public Service (APS) has announced plans to construct the Desert Sun Power Plant, a 2,000-megawatt natural gas facility located west of Gila Bend. The project comes in response to the rapidly growing energy demands of large-scale users, particularly data centers.
Under a new model proposed by APS, these extra-large energy consumers will be asked to sign agreements covering the capital costs of facility development. This approach is designed to ensure that energy infrastructure expansion does not impact existing residential and commercial ratepayers.
APS is preparing to launch a competitive bidding process to select a contractor for the project. The first phase of the Desert Sun Power Plant is expected to be operational by 2030. During development, the initiative is anticipated to generate hundreds of construction jobs, providing a boost to the local economy.
The plant will be powered by natural gas supplied through a major new pipeline currently under construction between Texas and Arizona, scheduled for completion in 2029.
