Energy Policy

Clean energy news: March 2023

March 28, 2023

Phoenix council member Yassamin Ansari pushes for climate action, sustainable energy; Mountain Line unveils first fully electric buses in Flagstaff; SRP looks from within to select new CEO to replace retiring Mike Hummel; Microsoft agrees to make data centers air cooled amid water infrastructure challenges in Goodyear; KORE Power selects Siemens as infrastructure technology provider for Arizona battery gigafactory; Hobbs won’t support water legislation that ‘creates additional loopholes’; Atlis Motor Vehicles becomes first company to successfully demonstrate over 1 megawatt charging capability; new lithium-ion battery recycling plant planned for Pinal County; Arizona still gets a significant amount of power from burning coal – how soon could that change?; Arizona voters support expanding access to natural spaces for underserved communities; and ZEVX closes $20M+ funding round, appoints Don Listwin as CEO.

Arizona still gets a significant amount of power from burning coal. How soon could that change?

February 24, 2023

Four years ago, the biggest electric company in Arizona declared that solar energy plants paired with batteries were the cheapest way to power the state, marking a major departure from fossil fuels. Months later, the largest coal-fired power plant in the West, the Navajo Generating Station, shut down outside of Page, ending a 45-year run. Arizona Public Service Co. and Salt River Project appeared to dive headfirst into renewables at the expense of coal.

Clean energy news: February 2023

February 21, 2023

Arizona needs more convenient EV charging stations, but gas stations can’t compete; SRP Solar for Nonprofits to provide solar energy systems to two Valley nonprofits; Lucid joins the EV price war with $7,500 ‘credits’ on some models; U.S. Dept. of Energy approves funds for Arizona’s updated Weatherization Assistance Plan; Maricopa County’s ozone pollution is high and getting worse; ASU startup scores funding from Shell for fire-safe lithium-ion battery research; Without an energy office, will Arizona get its full share of the Inflation Reduction Act?; 2023 and beyond: How electric vehicles are changing the world; Phoenix City Council votes to spend $230M on low- and no-emissions buses; Here’s how new legislation could boost Arizona solar development
Nikola Corp. unveils HYLA brand to represent its growing hydrogen business; Atlis debuts proprietary megawatt AC/DC charge handle and cable design, successfully delivering unprecedented 1,200A+ and 1,000V+ in charge tests; Partnership brings collaboration and investment to large-scale U.S. green hydrogen production projects; Phoenix launches shared micro mobility program: E-scooters, e-bikes, pedal bikes more accessible; More federal dollars coming from climate law for Western wildfire management; and Massive Jove Solar project in Arizona moves closer to reality.

Without an energy office, will Arizona get its full share of the Inflation Reduction Act?

February 13, 2023

In November 2015, the five remaining state employees assigned to secure federal funds for energy efficiency on behalf of Arizonans were abruptly let go from their jobs and their roles were dissolved. It was another step in then-Gov. Doug Ducey’s process of dismantling what he saw as excess government. Over its 40-year history, the State Energy Program had secured hundreds of millions of federal dollars for energy-efficiency projects throughout Arizona, including $115 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and $715,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2012, as reported by The Arizona Republic. But the Governor’s Office viewed the program as excessive and saw an opportunity to “cut down on the overhead.”

Clean energy news: January 2023

January 24, 2023

ElectraMeccanica relocates headquarters from Canada to Mesa; this three-wheel vehicle to be built in Mesa can’t fit a family, but it can deliver pizzas; Arizona EV battery maker expanding Tucson plant after years of development; Southern AZ voters overwhelmingly support copper mining in AZ; SRP approves new East Valley solar generating facility; Dimensional Energy plans hiring after opening Arizona facility; education group launches solar technician course for Amazon employees; $1 billion battery manufacturing plant proposed for southern Arizona; climate change could make rare heatwaves commonplace by 2050; regional clean hydrogen hub develops in Desert Southwest; Nikola’s federal loan application for Valley hydrogen hub advances; KORE Power poised to break ground on Valley battery manufacturing plant by end of 2022; capital raise of $75M is milestone for construction of KOREPlex, the lithium-ion battery gigafactory scheduled to break ground in Arizona Q4 2022; and Lectric eBikes offers viable transportation solution despite inflation and supply chain disruptions.

Clean energy news: December 2022

December 19, 2022

Climate change could make rare heatwaves commonplace by 2050

December 8, 2022

During a nine-day heat wave in the Pacific Northwest in June 2021, temperatures rose a staggering 18 to 54 degrees above average. A new study in the journal Nature Climate Change describes the larger-scale forces at work — some of which could affect the Southwest.

Regional clean hydrogen hub develops in the Desert Southwest

December 7, 2022

Energy leaders focused on developing low-carbon economies in Arizona, the Navajo Nation and Nevada have joined forces to develop a regional clean hydrogen hub in the Southwest. The Center for an Arizona Carbon-Neutral Economy (AzCaNE), housed within the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and first introduced in May, is collaborating with partners in the aforementioned areas to launch the Southwest Clean Hydrogen Innovation Network, or “SHINe.”

Nikola’s federal loan application for Valley hydrogen hub advances

December 7, 2022

Nikola Corp.’s application for potentially $1.3 billion in federal loan money to build a planned hydrogen production plant in the Valley is a step closer to being approved. The Phoenix-based zero-emissions vehicle maker said it submitted an application in May for a loan guarantee under the Innovative Clean Energy projects program with the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Program Office, and now the application has moved to the second part of the process.

Clean energy news: November 2022

November 22, 2022

AZ Corporation Commission approves changes to plan to expand wind power in Arizona; Arizona plans to give millions to ASU for water innovation, research; Lucid delivers first of its lower-priced Touring EVs; Nikola partners to accelerate charging infrastructure solutions; ASU leads $25M project to develop climate and environmental laboratory; Nov. 10 Arizona Electrification Summit convened energy leaders, highlighted new federal grants and tax incentives; EV fleet service provider signs purchase order for 100 zero-emission Nikola Tre battery-electric trucks; Chairwoman Lea Márquez Peterson proposes that APS partner with local startups and entrepreneurs to promote venture capital and innovation in Arizona energy industry; SRP honors Valley businesses for outstanding efforts in energy efficiency and being green leaders; EV carbon footprint will decrease over time, report says; driving an electric vehicle doesn’t need to cause range anxiety; Lucid enhances ownership experience with official line of Lucid vehicle accessories; SRP signs deal for two more battery storage stations to handle peak power demand; eight Arizona school districts get federal funding for electric school buses; Lectric eBikes announces new XP 3.0 model, next step in becoming greatest urban transportation solution; My View: Arizona policymakers set pace for innovators – and us – to keep water in our future; Cordia launches as new energy solutions provider dedicated to sustainability; and Phoenix private sector leads effort to build electric charging stations.

Energy Policy

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