Salt River Project (SRP) said on Nov. 4 that it will convert its portion of the Springerville Generating Station — the large coal-fired complex east of Eagar and Springerville — to burn natural gas. The announcement follows a similar conversion by Tucson Electric Power for its units at the plant and marks another step in a broader regional and national movement away from coal-fired generation.

SRP’s initial statement linked the decision to maintaining reliability while cutting emissions, but provided no firm timelines or details on permitting and construction. That lack of specifics has heightened attention among local officials, Navopache-area ratepayers and county tax administrators in southern Apache County, where the plant is a major employer and contributor to the local tax base.

Local economic consequences could be significant even without immediate details. Coal-to-gas conversions typically involve substantial construction work and equipment upgrades, which can bring temporary jobs and contracting opportunities to the region. At the same time, the long-term operational workforce for a gas-fired plant can differ from that for coal operations, potentially affecting employment stability and household incomes in the surrounding towns that depend on the plant. County leaders will be watching for construction schedules and hiring plans that determine whether work is phased to favor local hiring.

Air-quality permitting is another near-term pivot point. Converting boilers and fuel systems triggers reviews by state and federal regulators; local residents and governments will monitor permitting steps that could affect timelines and emissions outcomes. SRP’s framing of the move as an emissions-reduction measure aligns with utility trends to meet environmental goals while preserving grid reliability, but actual emissions outcomes depend on the design of the conversion, combustion controls, and the broader fuel supply chain.

Market implications extend beyond Apache County. Natural gas fuel exposes generation economics to commodity-price volatility and pipeline availability, factors that can affect power costs and, ultimately, ratepayers in Navopache and other distribution areas. Utilities often argue that gas conversions can lower near-term CO2 and particulate emissions compared with coal, but the trade-offs include exposure to gas-price swings and questions about upstream methane emissions.

The announcement is part of a long-term industry trend: many utilities have been retiring or repowering coal plants in recent years as renewable deployment, fuel-price dynamics and regulatory pressures reshape generation mixes. For southern Apache County, the immediate questions are practical and local — when construction will begin, how hiring and contracting will be structured, what the tax implications will be for local budgets, and how air-quality permits will be resolved. Until SRP releases detailed schedules and permitting plans, county officials and residents will be left to evaluate how the plant’s conversion will reshape the economic and environmental landscape of the region.