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