Arizona Public Service (APS) recently hosted the Nuclear Energy Institute's 64th Annual Nuclear Energy Assembly at Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale.

APS participated in roundtables about the future of nuclear energy and related technology, as well as strategies for educating the public, according to a press release. The event focused on the future, featuring the annual meeting of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN) and highlighting the progressiveness of the nearby Palo Verde plant.

Palo Verde is a hotbed of nuclear professionals in Arizona, with 2,600 APS employees. It provides the state with over $1.8 billion in economic stimulus annually, and it is jointly owned by APS, Salt River Project and additional entities. Palo Verde serves as a resource incubating the next generation of utility workers, partnering with area schools to train students in nuclear power plant careers, according to the release.

“These bright, enthusiastic engineers are the future of our industry,” Bob Bement, executive vice president and chief nuclear officer for APS, said in a release. “We welcome the opportunity to engage with this next generation of leaders and blend our experience with their fresh ideas for innovation and efficiency to even better serve our customers and contribute to a better energy future for Arizona.”

Palo Verde yields over 30 billion kilowatt hours yearly. Additionally, the plant creates 80 percent of Arizona’s clean-air energy using at least 50 percent carbon-free materials, spokespersons stated.