Study will look at possible sites for new Arizona new nuclear plant

Arizona's three major utilities have launched a study to determine which locations could work for a new nuclear plant.

That comes as the federal government denied their grant application to help cover costs.

Any new nuclear energy is still a long way out for Arizona, but the utilities say finding sites that could even work is a necessary first step if nuclear is going to expand in the state.

Most of the energy made in nuclear plants is lost to heat — which means cooling and therefore water — will play a key role in which sites could work best.

Arizona Corporation Commissioner René Lopez says while there is technology on the horizon to reduce consumption, all plants still need access to water.

“Water is gonna still be critical because that’s really what we have to use for cooling right now. But again it’s heartening, they’re already investigating that, right? They’re already looking into how to get more recycled water and/or other avenues for water permitting," Lopez said.

Policymakers and experts convened in Phoenix on Thursday on what it would take to advance nuclear projects.