Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant, Arizona

Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant is located in Wintersburg, Arizona, about 50 miles west of Phoenix. It's likely the largest single producer of electricity in the U.S., in addition to being the largest nuclear power plant in the U.S. as measured by total power output (almost 4,000 MW). In 2017 for example, Palo Verde generated over 32 million megawatt-hours, enough electricity to meet the needs of around four million people living in southern Arizona, southern California, New Mexico, and west Texas. The plant is home to three pressurized water reactors. Unit 1's output capacity is 1,311MW; Unit 2's output capacity is 1,314MW; while Unit 3's output capacity is 1,312MW. Unit 1's operating license was issued in 1985; Unit 2's operating license was issued in 1986; while Unit 3's operating license was issued in 1987.  The plant is operated and co-owned by Arizona Public Service Company (APS), on behalf of fellow co-owners El Paso Electric Company, Southern California Edison, PNM Resources, the Salt River Project, Southern California Public Power Authority, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Palo Verde is the only nuclear power plant in the U.S. which is not adjacent to a large body of water (a problem not uncommon in the desert), relying instead on recycled wastewater provided by five cities within the greater Phoenix area. The wastewater is piped from the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant in west Phoenix, directly to the Palo Verde plant, where it undergoes further treatment before it can be used. Nine cooling tower complexes are also to be found on-site.