February 2021 | Clean Energy News
APS partners with Electrify Commercial to expand fast-charging across state
Electrify Commercial will provide its charging equipment, networking and customized services to support Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) with its Take Charge AZ investment in electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging. The project includes five new charging stations with four individual chargers each, for a total of 20 ultra-fast chargers across the state. The announcement follows the recent launch of Electrify Commercial, a new business unit from Electrify America designed to help deliver turnkey EV charging solutions to businesses, utilities and government entities. This collaboration will help APS expand its statewide buildout of EV infrastructure with the addition of ultra-fast chargers that will provide Arizonans with the fastest speeds currently available. With this technology, capable EVs can add up to 20 miles of range per minute. Read more >>
What a new Corporation Commission Chair, energy rules could mean for Arizona
Recently elected by her colleagues at the Arizona Corporation Commission to serve as its chairwoman, Lea Marquez Peterson has a track record of working with legislators and the Governor’s Office to synthesize their power and expertise towards positive energy outcomes—for consumers, in the form of lower rates, and for utilities, in the form of policy conducive to expanding carbon-free energy sources. The Commission in 2020 voted 4-1 to adopt a 100% clean energy by 2050 goal, confirmed by 3 Republicans and 1 Democrat. Chairwoman Peterson led the effort to eliminate the proposed “technology requirements” that she argued would allow utilities to “simply invest in renewables to comply with the rules and be guaranteed to recover the money from ratepayers,” rather than make “prudent decisions.” Read more >>
UArizona wins funding to support renewable energy innovation
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) recently received an award of up to $300,000 from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to support the U.S. technology innovators competing in the Department of Energy’s American-Made Challenges program. NREL granted this award to UACI after their successful collaboration on the American-Made Solar Prize Challenge—an ongoing $3 million prize competition designed to increase the capabilities of American companies to manufacture efficient new solar technologies. UACI will now be offering their services as an incubator to startups competing in four separate American-Made Challenges, all focused on different areas of energy innovation and domestic manufacturing. American-Made Challenges is a program run by DOE and NREL that incentivizes entrepreneurs in domestic energy solutions through funding and networking. Read more >>
A glimpse inside Lucid Motors’ new electric vehicle factory in Casa Grande
CNBC got a first look inside Lucid Motors’ new EV factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, where it will build its luxury electric sedan, the Air. CEO Peter Rawlinson and VP of manufacturing Peter Hochholdinger show CNBC how the cars are built and discuss plans for the factory. Lucid Motors is making strides toward delivering its foremost electric sedan in early 2021. Its production lines are beginning to come to life. This is all taking place in Casa Grande, Arizona, a 590-acre footprint and home to Lucid Motors’ new production factory. The Lucid AMP-1 (Advanced Manufacturing Plant) will house the production and assembly of the California-based automaker’s upcoming Air luxury sedan. Check out the video here >>
New clean-energy policies will benefit Arizonans
President Joe Biden recently signed executive orders aimed at tackling climate change, curbing pollution, conserving natural resources and addressing environmental justice. To further develop his administration’s policies, the directives also created a federal Office of Climate Change and a National Climate Task Force to formulate objectives on global warming and public health. Biden has instructed federal agencies to prioritize environmental justice as they carry out orders to mitigate climate change and reduce pollution. He is directing 40% of clean-energy investments toward underserved and marginalized communities. Arizona State Rep. Andrés Cano (D-Tucson) said the president’s call for new investments in clean energy will help create good jobs and spur growth in Arizona’s economy. Read more >>
Tucson Electric Power’s biggest solar farm taking shape
The biggest solar farm built to serve Tucson Electric Power (TEP) customers is rising from the desert floor south of the city, and in a few months it will be churning out clean energy while the sun shines—and even when it doesn’t. The Wilmot Energy Center, a 100-megawatt AC photovoltaic project with 30MW of linked battery storage, is under construction by developer NextEra Energy Resources and is scheduled to begin operations as early as April 2021. Once operational, Wilmot Energy Center will create additional revenue for the community and clean, renewable solar energy in Arizona for years to come. Read more >>
Investors see green returns as renewable energy rises
The future looks bright for solar and other renewable energy technology. FirstSolar, Enphase and SunPower are among the renewable energy stocks that are benefiting from a much friendlier administration in the White House, whose agenda includes tackling climate change and bolstering green energy. Their stocks soared last year, far outpacing the wider market’s gains. On his first day in office, President Joe Biden rejoined the 2015 Paris climate agreement, revoked a permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline and halted oil and gas leasing in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Read more >>
What it’s like to drive ElectraMeccanica’s three-wheeled Solo vehicle
ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp., a Vancouver, British Columbia-based electric vehicle maker, is debuting its Solo vehicle and making it available for test drives. Test drives are now available for customers who have preordered vehicles or put down deposits, and will soon be offered to prospective customers at ElectraMeccanica retail locations. ElectraMeccanica CEO Paul Rivera said the company has made a decision on where it will build its U.S. manufacturing plant, but he declined to reveal the location during an interview on Friday. After a nationwide search, ElectraMeccanica named the Phoenix and Nashville areas as finalists for the plant that will build the Solo and future models. Sites in Mesa and Casa Grande were among the final options in the Valley. Read more >>
Nikola exec to lead global standardization project for hydrogen fueling technologies
Nikola’s Director of Fuel Cell Vehicle Code and Standards Antonio Ruiz has been appointed to lead a three-year hydrogen fueling global standardization project for the International Standardization Organization’s Technical Committee (TC 197). The TC 197 committee consists of hydrogen and fuel-cell technology experts that represent member countries, hydrogen industry and stakeholders throughout the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe. As a manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, Nikola is revolutionizing the transportation industry. Read more >>
Arizona taskforce works to rebuild our economy in a more sustainable way
A sustainable economy is a successful economy. That is what state advocates believe as they continue to build on a task force aimed at helping Arizona businesses thrive with clean air and clean energy solutions. Recently, the city of Phoenix voted in council chambers to approve a measure that made them officially part of the ‘Arizona Thrives Alliance.’ The Arizona Thrives Alliance has been working over the last year amid the pandemic to discuss ways to create clean air and clean energy within the business and the community. The collective goal is to meet or exceed the Clean Air Act quality standards and achieve net-zero carbon neutrality by 2050. Read more >>