Cholla Power Plant – Emissions Trend

Joseph City, AZ · 2019–2023 · Parent: Pinnacle West Capital Corp

This page assembles 5 consecutive years of EPA Toxics Release Inventory Form R filings for Cholla Power Plant, spanning 2019–2023. Each annual total aggregates on-site air emissions, surface-water discharges, land disposal, and off-site transfers reported by the facility under EPCRA Section 313, which requires disclosure whenever a listed chemical is manufactured, processed, or otherwise used above threshold quantities.

Reported releases opened at 127.2K in 2019 and closed at 93.7K in 2023 – a decrease of 26.3% over the window. The chart below stacks the four TRI release media (air, water, land, off-site) and overlays the yearly total. The top contributor by cumulative mass is Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)) at 208.6K, followed by Barium And Barium Compounds at 127.7K.

Because TRI figures are estimated, not metered, year-over-year deltas can reflect methodology revisions, ownership changes, or shifts in what a facility classifies as reportable, not only physical emission changes. Treat the trajectory as a disclosure record, and cross-reference with the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) system for the fuller regulatory picture on this electric utilities facility.

Overall Trend
↓ Decreasing (-26.3%)
2019 Total
127.2K lbs
2023 Total
93.7K lbs

Total Releases by Category

Air
Water
Land
Offsite Transfer
033.8K67.5K101.3K135.0K168.8K 20192020202120222023 Pounds Released

Year-over-Year Comparison

Year Total Chemicals YoY Change
2019 127.2K lbs 16 -
2020 168.8K lbs 17 +32.7%
2021 64.5K lbs 12 -61.8%
2022 127.6K lbs 14 +97.8%
2023 93.7K lbs 12 -26.6%

Top Chemicals by Year

Chemical 20192020202120222023 Total
Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)) 76.0K 94.6K 38.1K - - 208.6K
Barium And Barium Compounds - - - 73.8K 53.9K 127.7K
Manganese compounds 23.0K 34.9K 12.4K - - 70.3K
Manganese And Manganese Compounds - - - 26.9K 21.4K 48.3K
Vanadium compounds 6.0K 8.4K 3.1K 6.2K 4.7K 28.4K
Hydrogen fluoride 6.2K 7.6K 4.1K 5.5K 4.3K 27.8K
Zinc compounds 3.9K 5.6K 2.3K 4.2K 3.5K 19.6K
Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region) 5.3K 6.3K 2.6K - - 14.2K
Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region) - - - 4.7K 3.9K 8.5K
Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size) 1.6K 1.9K 1.5K 1.2K 1.1K 7.5K
Copper compounds 2.6K 3.3K - - - 5.8K
Nickel compounds - 3.5K - - - 3.5K
Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size) 915 1.0K - 908 - 2.9K
Copper And Copper Compounds - - - 2.8K - 2.8K
Lead compounds 1.0K 1.2K 371 - - 2.5K

About This Data

Trend data is sourced from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Facilities report annually. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. Year-over-year changes may reflect changes in production, pollution control measures, reporting methodology, or chemical thresholds.

A decrease in reported releases does not necessarily indicate improved environmental performance, as it may reflect production cutbacks, facility closures, or changes in reporting requirements. Similarly, increases may reflect expanded production rather than degraded environmental practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cholla Power Plant getting cleaner or dirtier?
Based on EPA TRI data from 2019–2023, Cholla Power Plant's total toxic releases have decreased by approximately 26%.
What time period does this trend data cover?
This page shows 5 years of EPA Toxic Release Inventory data from 2019–2023. Release quantities are self-reported estimates filed annually by the facility.