Clean energy news: August 2022
Salt River Project names resource-management veteran as new water operations chief
Salt River Project has named a new head of its water operations. Leslie Meyers, a veteran in Southwest regional water resources management, was named chief water executive and associate general manager of water resources for Tempe-based SRP, which provides power and water services to thousands of residents and businesses in and around the Valley. Read more >>
New details emerge about how AZ businesses can win fed infrastructure funds
New details have emerged regarding how small businesses might be able to win some of the federal dollars flowing to the State of Arizona as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The bill, signed into law by President Biden in November of 2021, allocates funds to states and businesses by means of grants and specialized programs. Both delivery methods have direct state recipients as well as competitive opportunities. Read more >>
Phoenix-based solar energy provider expands with acquisition of energy services co.
Nikola announces leadership succession as CEO set to retire
How Arizona senators Kyrsten Sinema, Mark Kelly shaped the Inflation Reduction Act
For several hours on Sunday, it looked like Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 might be in jeopardy. The mammoth $430 billion climate and health care bill, which was ultimately passed via a 51-50 all-Democratic majority, was in the final stages of a reconciliation “vote-a-rama.” Senators had pulled an all-nighter to get through a series of mostly Republican-sponsored amendments meant to impose politically painful votes on Democrats. Read more >>
Supreme Court ruling against EPA hurts, may not hobble clean air in Arizona
When the Supreme Court ruled this summer that the EPA could not force power plants to move away from fossil fuels, advocates worried that the justices had removed the “most effective tool for regulating and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” They’re still worried. But in Arizona, at least, some of those concerns have been eased by a market-driven shift away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy that has long been in the works at the power plants in the state. Read more >>
Nikola beats expectations after delivering 48 trucks in Q2
Nikola, the Phoenix-based vehicle maker, announced its first significant revenue on Thursday after selling 48 electric trucks during the second quarter. Nikola Corp. (Nasdaq: NKLA) reported revenue of $18.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, ahead of the Wall Street expectation of $16.46 million. The company also reported a net loss per share of 25 cents, again outpacing analyst expectations of a 28 cent loss. The company made 50 trucks at its Coolidge plant in Pinal County and said it would have made more if not for a lack of battery packs. Read more >>
Sustaining profits: The environment and its challenges are driving business success
From an overabundance of sun to an underabundance of water, the natural environment has become the elephant in the room for the business community. But many see it as big opportunity. “Like many regions in the Southwest, Greater Phoenix is addressing environmental issues from water and drought to urban heat,” says Chris Camacho, president and CEO of Greater Phoenix Economic Council, following this dismal observation with the confident assessment, “However, proactive policies have given Greater Phoenix an advantageous position over cities like Reno, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Read more >>
Phoenix greenhouse gas emissions decreased in 2020, study finds
The City of Phoenix’s 2020 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory shows both community-scale and government operations emissions decreased during that year. “Our investments in energy efficiency, transportation electrification, and renewable energy have demonstrated progress toward Phoenix’s Climate Action Plan goals,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “This work is crucial to ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future, and we will continue to deliver results in city operations and across our community.” Read more >>
Our View: Corporate sector can lead the way in securing Arizona’s clean energy future
For several years, the corporate sector — with technology companies often leading the way — has set carbon emission goals and developed strategies to attain these. Most recently, this has moved from a differentiator to “the price of entry.” With increased public concern about climate change and Moody’s Analytics already providing tools to assess a company’s climate risk, the business community’s attention to lowering emissions is intensifying even further. Read more >>
Nikola agrees to acquisition to bring battery pack engineering and production in-house
Jobs in solar energy continue to grow in Arizona, report finds
Arizona continues to be a national leader for jobs in the solar energy sector. The state’s solar industry employment reached 8,278 jobs during 2021, according to the nonprofit Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s 12th-annual National Solar Jobs Census released July 26. That’s up roughly 12.7% from 7,346 jobs during 2020, and Arizona’s 932 new jobs in 2021 was fourth-highest in the nation. Read more >>
Major fleet owners urge smart, rapid build-out of EV infrastructure
A letter sent to state leaders and the Federal Highway Administration on behalf of the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance and NAFA Fleet Management Association detailed a set of recommendations designed to guide the build-out of cost-effective, equitable, and reliable electric vehicle charging infrastructure, particularly as states look to spend funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, established by the federal Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act. Read more >>
SRP gets Climate Registered platinum status distinction, first named for 2020 reporting year
Salt River Project (SRP) has been awarded Climate Registered™ Platinum Status for the 2020 reporting year. The Climate Registry, a nonprofit organization, is North America’s largest voluntary registry for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. SRP earned this recognition, awarded on behalf of The Climate Registry, by setting and disclosing a public GHG reduction goal as well as a public base year, in addition to publicly reporting a third-party verified GHG emissions inventory for its operations. This data will enable SRP to track its climate initiatives and GHG reductions credibly over time. Read more >>
Amazon’s custom electric delivery vehicles hit Phoenix area streets
Homebuilder commits to EPA’s highest water-efficiency standards in all its future Arizona homes