Conservationists and residents of the community of Randolph gathered outside the Arizona Corporation Commission building Tuesday to protest Salt River Project’s expansion of a gas-fired generating station.

The commission voted 4-1 to deny the project.

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The Coolidge Generating Station is located across the street from the unincorporated town of Randolph, a historic Black community since World War II.

Residents complain that they had little input into the expansion and fear that it will have health impacts on the community.

Clean energy advocates say that SRP should expand its use of renewables.

“We cannot allow the Randolph community to become another statistic. We must honor and respect the residents of Randolph,” said Yara Marin of Vote Solar.

SRP says that the Valley’s growing population means that it will need more options to provide power in the future.

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