Clean Air

Clean energy news: April 2022

April 28, 2022

Queen Creek is new home for high-tech battery facility; Arizona lawmakers pass bill to restrict competition in electricity market; how businesses can cash in on infrastructure dollars coming to Arizona; utility company makes progress on infrastructure for Taiwan Semiconductor project in north Phoenix; federal infrastructure funds are flowing into Arizona — how local businesses tap in; study looks at attitudes toward plastic, sustainability and climate change; Valley solar services company plans further push into rental market after $20M raise; how the Phoenix East Valley is transforming electric vehicles industry; recycling solar panels is complicated — here’s how one Yuma company does it; energy companies engage Utilicast to oversee strategic improvement planning; science needs data to solve problems — climate change is making that harder; how high gasoline prices are affecting transportation across Arizona; how EVs will revolutionize transportation needs for small businesses; and Intel pledges net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

ASU plants ‘mechanical tree’ on Tempe campus to remove carbon dioxide

April 25, 2022

Arizona State University is taking a new step to combat climate change by installing its first “mechanical tree” in Tempe that removes carbon dioxide from the air, just as real trees do. The trees, which are actually shaped like large tubes, remove carbon dioxide by catching carbon molecules on a unique sorbent material. The tree technology is also passive, meaning it does not need energy-consuming fans to direct air into its capture process.

Study looks at attitudes toward plastic, sustainability and climate change

April 7, 2022

Footprint, a global materials science technology company focused on creating a healthy planet, today released the results of a multi-country research study examining consumer attitudes toward single-use plastics and the expectations they have of brands and retailers to provide more sustainable options. The study, which was conducted by Wunderman Thompson Intelligence on behalf of Footprint, dove into attitudes among consumers in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Netherlands, and looked at how COVID-19 played a role in those sentiments.

Energy companies engage Utilicast to oversee strategic improvement planning

April 1, 2022

The Western Markets Exploratory Group (WMEG) announced the hiring of Utilicast, an energy consulting company, to evaluate regional market structures to improve affordability, reliability, and decarbonization opportunities across the West.

Science needs data to solve problems. Climate change is making that harder

March 31, 2022

Sometimes science becomes too hot to handle. That’s what researchers at the University of Arizona found recently when they tried to test a new air pollution monitoring system around Tucson. The scientists set out to install new equipment and implement a standardized protocol for monitoring levels of NO2, NOx, PM-2.5 and PM-10, four common air pollutants, that is already being used in 16 European countries. By adopting the same method of air quality evaluation used in ongoing studies elsewhere, they hoped to be able to improve comparisons of Tucson’s air pollution with levels in other environments and to test the accuracy of data from existing instruments around Tucson that are operated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Act on climate to invest in Arizona’s future

March 30, 2022

Things are changing here in Arizona – and not for the better. Our climate is becoming more extreme, oscillating between historic droughts and monsoons. Wildfire season is starting earlier, ending later, and causing more destruction. Temperatures are warming, electricity bills are rising, and public health is taking a hit due to pollution. The effects of climate change are harming many aspects of our daily lives, but thankfully, we have an opportunity to fight back and turn things around.

How EVs will revolutionize transportation needs for small businesses

March 29, 2022

Just about everyone has felt the pinch at the gas pump over the last few months, and electric vehicles are proving to be a wiser investment option for small business owners. Electric vehicles (EVs) contribute to cleaner air, reduced transportation costs and lower operating costs compared to diesel and petrol equivalents

Manchin ready to engage on reconciliation

March 28, 2022

Is it time for a reconciliation resurrection? There have been signs recently that Sen. Joe Manchin is ready to resume negotiations on the massive climate and social spending package he torpedoed late last year, according to people knowledgeable on the matter.

Raising more than $1.2M, Battle Approved Motors proves health of electric vehicle market

March 23, 2022

Phoenix-based Battle Approved Motors (BAM), an early-stage, high-end electric UTV (utility terrain vehicle) startup raises over $1.2M, proving the health of the electric vehicle market in an otherwise tumultuous time for investors. BAM continues to contribute to the future worth of the North America Electric Vehicle Market that’s expected to hit $396.94B by 2028.

We need statewide plan for EV charging network

March 23, 2022

The future of the auto industry is electric. This year’s Super Bowl LVI ads underscore the consumer shift away from gas, as automakers BMW, GM, Chevrolet, Kia, Nissan and Polestar each showcased their zero-emission vehicles to viewers across the globe.

Clean Air

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