The Palo Verde Energy Education Center (EEC) opened in 2011. The main purpose for this facility is to serve as an emergency base of operations in the event of a crisis at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS), which is conveniently located 22 miles away. During non-emergency times, the center is used as a technical and education facility. Information from the PVNGS is displayed via live data streams and monitored closely by employees at the facility. They are able to communicate instantly with the individuals at the plant and other officials around the world if any issue arises at the nuclear plant.
The EEC was designed by Arrington Watkins Architects to be an energy- efficient, state-of-the-art building and incorporates the latest technologies in creating sustainable structures to achieve this goal. Some of the Green Building concepts utilized in this LEED Gold Certified facility are that it uses heavy insulation for the building envelope, has specialized sizing and shading on all the windows installed and the air distribution system.