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Clean energy news: October 2021

Phoenix adopts updated climate action plan

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and the City Council have adopted a climate action plan roadmap to cut emissions and build a more resilient city by approving the City’s comprehensive action plan to reach its net-zero goal a decade or more earlier. The move sets a goal to reach net-zero by 2050 or sooner, and adds a specific 50-percent reduction in emissions by 2030. Read more >>


Nikola signs hydrogen fuel station deal with renewable energy producer

Nikola, the Phoenix-based maker of zero emission vehicles, has entered into an agreement with OPAL Fuels to produce hydrogen refueling stations and related infrastructure to power vehicles that run on alternative fuels. In an announcement, Nikola said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with OPAL Fuels to co-develop and co-market a new hydrogen refueling infrastructure aimed at increasing adoption of its heavy-duty, class 8 fuel cell vehicles in the future. Read more >>


Here’s how Phoenix can benefit from the use of electric cars

It might not be the Green New Deal, but what would you think about the Green New Wheel? Arizona ranks No. 7 in the nation for its use of electric vehicles, according to the U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center. In Phoenix, the excitement surrounding electric cars is steadily increasing as technology improves and outreach continues to grow. Read more >>


Sinema can address energy inequities, fight climate change

Thousands of Arizonans invest in solar each year to lower their electricity bills and contribute to creating a cleaner, more sustainable community. Congress is currently debating a $3.5 trillion budget bill that, if passed, will drive long-term economic growth and promote sustainability here in the Grand Canyon State and across the country. But as it stands today, it is still missing a critical component that would begin to address disparities in access to the benefits of solar energy and create good paying jobs in Arizona communities. Read more >>


Rising electric vehicle maker announces ‘technology race’ against Elon Musk’s Tesla

The CEO of electric vehicle startup Lucid says the company is ready to compete at the top of the EV market as it’s poised to start delivering luxury electric sedans to customers in late October. Lucid kicked off production of its previously delayed Lucid Air vehicles at its factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. The electric carmaker says customer deliveries of its Lucid Air Dream Edition — priced at $169,000 — will begin late next month, followed by less expensive models. Read more >>


Nikola and PGT Trucking sign LOI for 100 Nikola FCEV trucks

Nikola, a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy infrastructure solutions, today announced a collaboration with PGT Trucking, Inc. (PGT), an international multi-service flatbed transportation company, to advance electric drive heavy-duty transport. This collaboration includes a Letter of Intent (LOI) to lease 100 Nikola Tre heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) following the satisfactory completion of a Nikola Tre FCEV demonstration program under terms to be agreed to between the parties. Read more >>


Babbit Ranches partners with SRP, energy developer on solar northwest of Flagstaff

If this year is anything to go on, renewable energy may have a bright future in northern Arizona. Recently, water and power utility Salt River Project announced it would be working with the Boise-based renewable energy company Clēnera to locate a new large-scale solar facility northwest of Flagstaff. The new facility, dubbed CO Bar Solar, is being built in partnership with Babbitt Ranches. Read more >>


New EPA report confirms what south Phoenix’s residents of color know: climate change discriminates

A new Environmental Protection Agency report provides some sobering statistics. The report, which is peer-reviewed, found that people of color face disproportionate harm from climate change, with Black, Native and Latino populations more than 40% more likely to suffer from some hazards than their peers. Read more >>


AZDES and utility providers to distribute $36 million for households in need

Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona Department of Economic Security announced the Department will provide a total of $36 million to support eligible households in need of temporary utility assistance and ensure continuity of services. Through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) is partnering with Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project (SRP), UniSource Energy Services (UES), Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and Southwest Gas to ensure the funding will apply directly to customer accounts once their program eligibility is confirmed. After this initial pilot, DES intends to expand this payment model to all utility providers statewide. Read more >>


Air quality remains poor in Phoenix, where pollution outlasted the pandemic shutdown

Phoenix has ranked as one of the worst cities for air quality in the country and a new report shows that not even the pandemic lockdown could change that. The report found that air pollution remains a serious problem across the metro area, with 2020 pollution levels not so different from those in previous years. The region experienced 149 days of elevated air pollution in 2020, according to Environment America, a research and policy group that used data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Read more >>


My View: Losing power in Arizona is not an option

As electric utilities in Arizona and across the West are increasingly confronted with power capacity constraints, the challenge to meet quickly rising customer demand is well known. The Phoenix metropolitan area is growing at three times the national average and becoming a high-tech manufacturing hub. Our obligation is to support this unprecedented economic growth by building needed infrastructure while continuing to meet objectives in reliability, sustainability and affordability. Read more >>


Key report likely overstated costs of Arizona’s Clean Energy Rules, new analysis finds

A recent report commissioned by the Arizona Corporation Commission likely overstated the costs for utilities to increase their clean electricity resources in coming years, presenting a flawed outlook at the effects of the state’s proposed Clean Energy Rules, according to the Arizona Technology Council and the sustainability nonprofit Ceres. Read more >>


Visit www.aztechcouncil.org/tech-events to view all of the Council’s upcoming virtual tech networking opportunities, engaging virtual tech events and in-person tech events.


 

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