SRP Director Focuses on Environmental Sustainability

As a director with one of the nation’s largest public power utilities, Lori Singleton is responsible for programs that have an impact in the world.

Singleton is director of Customer Programs and Operations Support at Salt River Project (SRP), a community based non-profit utility. As a 38-year employee of SRP, she’s a well-known advocate for the sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the environment who is valued for balancing the utility customer’s needs with protecting the natural world. SRP is the oldest multipurpose federal reclamation project in the country, supplying cost-effective electric and water services to about a million customers throughout large portions of Arizona.

At SRP, Singleton is responsible for developing and implementing sustainability initiatives, including rooftop solar and programs that help reforest land destroyed by fire, support solar for local nonprofits, encourage the adoption of electric vehicles and help customers green up their energy. She built her career around a passion for responsible environmental protection and sustainability initiatives.

Under one of her programs, Singleton spearheads SRP’s Solar for Nonprofits, which provides solar photovoltaic installations and has helped reduce operational costs for 57 Valley nonprofit organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Child Crisis Center and the Phoenix Zoo. She also oversees revitalization initiatives through SRP’s Trees for Change program that helps prevent wildfires and revitalizes the lands they destroy.

Since 2010, more than 1.3 million acres of Arizona forests have been destroyed by devastating wildfires. In partnership with the National Forest Foundation, SRP has planted about a million trees on 2,560 acres of forest land through the program, which is funded by SRP customers who pledge $3 or more on their monthly bills and SRP matching donations up to $200,000 annually.

Singleton has expanded the program with the Trees for Touchdowns campaign in partnership with the Arizona Cardinals football team. SRP funds planting 100 pine trees per touchdown. With the team finishing  last season with a record 59 touchdowns, it resulted in SRP planting 5,900 additional trees. The program is in full swing again this year with the Cardinals’ season.

Singleton serves on the Board of Directors for Arizona Forward and Liberty Wildlife. She has served on the Governor’s Solar Energy Advisory Task Force, the City of Phoenix Commission on the Environment, Board Chair for Valley Forward Association, and Board Chair for Audubon of Arizona.

SRP is the umbrella name for two separate entities: The Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District and the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association. One is a state electrical utility for the Phoenix Metropolitan area and the other is the primary water provider for much of central Arizona.