This historically Black community is worried about SRP's expansion plans

By Steve Goldstein
Published: Wednesday, April 6, 2022 - 12:36pm
Updated: Wednesday, April 6, 2022 - 1:27pm

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coolidge generating station
SRP
The Coolidge Generating Station is a natural gas power plant owned and operated by the Salt River Project.

Randolph, Arizona, is situated just about evenly between Phoenix and Tucson. It’s a still-unincorporated area of Pinal County that has been a largely Black community since being founded in the 1920s.

Unlike other growing areas nearby, Randolph has been marked by a steel and iron factory and an asphalt emulsion plant rather than strip malls and shops.

Now, the Salt River Project wants to make its natural gas generating station near Randolph in Coolidge much larger. That has many residents concerned about pollution and their quality of life.

Arizona Republic reporter Joshua Bowling wrote about Randolph’s circumstances recently. And Mary Turner is a resident of Randolph who spent much of her childhood there.

The Show spoke with both of them to learn about the situation in Randolph.

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