Where Sustainability Meets Technology
At the heart of every technological advancement, semiconductors are silently powering the future. But as we enter an era where sustainability is not just a choice but a necessity, the semiconductor industry is finding itself at a crossroads. The recent GreenBiz 24 conference in Phoenix not only highlighted the latest sustainable practices but also the challenges and triumphs of intertwining technology with eco-consciousness. Read more >>
Native Renewables receives federal grant to electrify tribal homes with solar
The deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy met Wednesday in Flagstaff with Navajo and Hopi leaders to discuss an unprecedented federal investment in solar energy for tribal homes.
The Navajo-led nonprofit Native Renewables received an 8 million dollar grant to install off-grid, battery-powered solar systems in Navajo and Hopi homes. It’s part of a $366 million clean energy package for twenty states and thirty Tribal nations announced this week by the Biden Administration. Read more >>
Arizona announces new statewide heat officer, plans for relief after record deaths in 2023
All-Electric School Bus Delivered to Phoenix Elementary School District, First Delivery in Arizona
GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (NASDAQ: GP) (TSXV: GPV) (“GreenPower”), a leading manufacturer and distributor of purpose-built, all-electric, zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles serving the cargo and delivery market, shuttle and transit space and school bus sector, today announced the delivery of the first GreenPower all-electric, purpose-built Type D BEAST school bus in the state of Arizona to the Phoenix Elementary School District. Read more >>
Arizona ranks ninth in nation for solar industry growth in 2023, report finds
Arizona was among the top states in the nation for solar industry growth in 2023, according to a trade industry association report released March 6.
The Grand Canyon State ranked No. 9 for photovoltaic solar installations in the U.S. last year, adding 861 megawatts to the electric grid and marking a 25.7% increase over 685 megawatts that came online in 2022, according to the market insight report by the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie. Read more >>
How Arizona became a hotspot for clean energy investments
Arizona is experiencing a surge of investment activity in green projects and clean energy, emphasizing the state’s unique attractiveness for this growing industry.
Billions in clean energy investments have poured into the state over the last couple of years, representing a wide array of renewable energy projects from wind, hydrogen, electric and solar from companies like LG Energy Solution, NextEra Energy, American Battery Factory, AES Corporation and more. Arizona saw more than $8 billion in clean energy investments in the 12 months between August 2022 and August 2023, among the highest in the nation. Read more >>
Independent Solar Teams Up with Sunnova Energy in a Groundbreaking Partnership Across Arizona
For the past eight years, Independent Solar has been holding a masterclass on running a business against industry norms and providing exceptional service to its clients, the industry, and the people who work there. The company operates in the solar field, selling solar systems to customers in Arizona and Nevada, and is soon to be in Texas and Florida. Read more >>
Arizona Accelerates EV Future: 21 Charging Stations by 2025, Fueled by Federal Grants
Arizona is steering toward an electric future with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) at the helm, embarking on a significant venture to establish a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the state. With a strategic plan to partner with companies for the construction and management of these stations, the initiative is set to revolutionize Arizona’s approach to sustainable transportation. Funded predominantly through federal grants covering 80% of the project costs, this initiative underscores a collaborative effort between state authorities and private developers to bolster the EV infrastructure. Read more >>
City of Phoenix implements water conservation requirements for major water users
The city of Phoenix has approved new water regulations for major water users, but it’s expected to have minimal impact on existing projects.
Phoenix City Council in March moved forward with new rules for facilities that will use more than 250,000 gallons per day with additional requirements for those expected to use more than 500,000 gallons per day. Read more >>
Energy Department announces $366 million for rural clean energy projects
The U.S. Department of Energy is investing $366 million to support clean energy development in rural and remote areas, officials announced Tuesday.
The money will support 17 projects across 20 states and 30 Native American tribal nations. Twelve of the projects are fully on tribal land. One project, which is receiving $10 million, will use solar power to reduce costs for Taos Pueblo households by $700 per year. Read more >>
Phoenix claims top spot in list of nation’s ‘Best Cities for Solar Energy’
Arizona dominated a national ranking that details which U.S. cities lead the way in solar power potential.
Nine cities in Arizona are listed among the top 20 of Roof Gnome’s ranking of “2024’s Best Cities for Solar Energy.” Phoenix topped the list with an overall score of 65.3. (Click here to see Roof Gnome’s ranking/methodology.) Read more >>
Arizona part of battery and green energy climate solution
n the Arizona desert, a Danish company is building a massive solar farm that includes batteries that charge when the sun is shining and supply energy back to the electric grid when it’s not. Combining batteries with green energy is a fast-growing climate solution.
“Solar farms only produce when the sun shines, and the turbines only produce when the wind blows,” said Ørsted CEO Mads Nipper. “For us to maximize the availability of the green power, 24-7, we have to store some of it too.” Read more >>
First-of-its-kind plastics recycling microfactory to transform waste, create new jobs
A new plastics recycling and remanufacturing “microfactory” will convert waste materials into new products, provide skilled job opportunities and create a cooperative business model in Phoenix.
A first-of-its-kind, the Circular Plastics Microfactory held its opening ceremony on Feb. 6 and is a result of partnerships between Arizona State University, the city of Phoenix, Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, and Hustle PHX. Read more >>
Scottsdale solar company Arevon Energy Inc. secures $1 billion to build second phase of California generation-storage facility
Renewable energy company Arevon Energy Inc., which has the bulk of its operations in Scottsdale, has secured more than $1 billion in financing to proceed with a major solar project in Southern California that combines solar power generation and storage. Read more >>
KOREPlex Site Plan Receives Key Approval, Project to Deliver a $1.25B Investment in Buckeye
The KOREPlex, which is central to KORE Power, inc.’s (KORE) plan to build an American lithium-ion battery supply chain, received a key approval this week, when the City of Buckeye’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved plans for Phases 1 and 2 at the site. Read more >>
Raytheon cites successful test of advanced air missile reconfigured for ground launch
The Raytheon division of RTX (NYSE: RTX) — that has its missile-building operation based in Tucson — has announced the successful completion of a flight test of an updated version of an extended-range air-to-air missile that was reconfigured as a surface-to-air system. Read more >>
New CFO Named at Nikola
Nikola Corporation, a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, via the HYLA brand, announced the appointment of an accomplished and highly regarded financial executive, Thomas “Tom” B. Okray, who has joined the company’s executive team as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Read more >>
Sky Harbor starts 2024 off strong; airline announces new Phoenix route
Following a record-setting year, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport continued that momentum and started off 2024 with more passengers traveling through its gates than any January before.
In January, Sky Harbor recorded 3,939,032 total passengers going through its terminals, a 2.2% increase from January 2023, the previous record, according to data released Feb. 29 by the Phoenix Aviation Department. Read more >>
ASU-led EPIXC initiative to tackle greenhouse gas emissions
Arizona State University is at the forefront of a “clean energy revolution.” Those were the words of U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk at the EPIXC launch event held Thursday at the Rob and Melani Walton Center for Planetary Health on the Tempe campus.
EPIXC, which stands for Electrified Processes for Industry Without Carbon, is a multi-institution effort being led by Arizona State University, which in 2023 was chosen by the Department of Energy to receive up to $70 million to establish a new Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute devoted to the challenge of fighting greenhouse gas emissions from industrial process heating. Read more >>
SRP updates sustainability goals with plans for reduced emissions, more EVs
Salt River Project says it has revised its sustainability goals to make them more ambitious.
The changes to SRP’s 2035 Sustainability Goals are part of a scheduled five-year update for the Tempe-based nonprofit utility since the previous goals were approved in 2019. SRP said the updates — to go into effect in May 2025 — reflect input from the public, cities, businesses, environmental organizations and others. Read more >>
Several Arizona firms, and AZTC members, make Inc.’s regional list of fast-growing companies
Nearly three dozen Arizona companies — all of them in the Valley — have landed on Inc. magazine’s 2024 Southwest Regional list on the way to the final 5000 list. AZTC companies on the list include: The PMO Squad, YellowBird, The RFP Success Company, and WebPT. Read more >>
TSMC set to receive $5 billion for Arizona fabs, report says
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is slated to land more than $5 billion in federal grants to support its Arizona chipmaking facility, according to Bloomberg.
TSMC is making “steady progress in productive, ongoing discussions” with the U.S. government for federal incentives, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Read more >>
Sun Corridor Inc., Sonora Global Sign Historic Agreement to Boost Economic Cooperation
Sun Corridor Inc., Tucson and Southern Arizona’s regional economic development organization, and Sonora Global, the economic development organization for the State of Sonora, Mexico have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding to promote trade and economic development as a megaregion. Read more >>
Arevon Energy announces solar project to power Meta’s regional operations in Missouri
Arevon Energy, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based renewable energy company, announced Wednesday, March 6, that a solar project in Scott County will power Meta’s regional operations.
Known as the Kelso Solar Project, the 2,500-acre facility is actually just north of Blodgett. It consists of two phases: a 200-megawatt section and a 149-megawatt section. Read more >>
Intel awarded $8.5 billion in CHIPS Act grants
The U.S. is awarding Intel with $8.5 billion in direct funding through the federal CHIPS Act to support the company’s semiconductor advanced packaging and manufacturing facilities in Arizona and three other states.
Once loans and tax credits are considered, Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) could receive a package valued at more than $40 billion. Read more >>
Innovative Startup Focused on Developing Clinical Diagnostic Tools Wins Startup Incubation Support through Collaboration Between the University of Arizona and Forward-Looking Legal Firm
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is pleased to announce the winning startup team for the UACI Sponsored Launch Fueled by Spencer Fane LLP competition. The startup, TheraCea, will continue to receive support in the UACI incubation program including resources, facilities, services and expert guidance to grow its business. Read more >>
ASU Business School Launches New AI Degree Program
Following ASU’s groundbreaking announcement of the first university collaboration with OpenAI, the W. P. Carey School of Business is officially launching a new degree program — the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Business (MS-AIB). Backed by faculty from the Department of Information Systems, it is the first AI graduate degree program from a business school in the United States. Read more >>
30th Anniversary for PADT Marks Significant Milestone for the Arizona-Based Engineering Products and Services Company
PADT, a globally recognized provider of numerical simulation, product development, and 3D printing products and services, announced its 30th year in business in March 2024. The company was started back in 1994 by four engineers who had a vision of taking advanced computer aided engineering capabilities that were only being used in aerospace and making them available to other industries. Read more >>
Raytheon gets $1.2 billion deal from Germany for Patriot missile defense system
Under a new $1.2 billion contract awarded this week, Raytheon’s Arizona unit will provide the German military with a fresh supply of Patriot air and missile defense equipment. Raytheon, a division of Virginia-based RTX Corp. (NYSE: RTX), whose missile manufacturing operations are based in Tucson, said the contract will supply the most current Patriot Configuration 3+ radars, launchers and command-and-control stations, along with spare parts and support. Read more >>
E-commerce giant Amazon inks huge lease in West Valley
Amazon.com Inc. has signed another massive industrial lease in metro Phoenix, adding to its substantial portfolio in the Valley. Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) will fully lease a 1.2 million-square-foot building for 10 years at The Cubes at Glendale industrial park, according to a new Cushman & Wakefield listing that markets the building for an acquisition opportunity. Read more >>
Arizona EV Manufacturer Lucid Announces Investment of $1 Billion
Lucid Group, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with its majority stockholder, Ayar Third Investment Company (“Ayar”), an affiliate of the Public Investment Fund (“PIF”), to purchase $1.0 billion of newly created series of convertible preferred stock via private placement, subject to customary closing conditions. Read more >>
inBusiness PHX
Lucid Group, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with its majority stockholder, Ayar Third Investment Company (“Ayar”), an affiliate of the Public Investment Fund (“PIF”), to purchase $1.0 billion of newly created series of convertible preferred stock via private placement, subject to customary closing conditions.
“We are extremely pleased to receive this strong, continued support from the PIF, as we work to solidify our place as the world’s leading EV technology company,” said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Group. “We continue to invest for the long term in both our technology and our vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities, with PIF’s support a key differentiator. With their support, we remain focused upon accelerating our growth via deliveries, executing key business initiatives with relentless focus upon cost, and launching our game-changing Gravity SUV later this year.”
Lucid intends to use the net proceeds from the private placement for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, capital expenditures and working capital.
The convertible preferred stock sold to Ayar in the private placement will be sold in reliance on the exemption from registration provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Lucid’s mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy by creating advanced technologies and the most captivating luxury electric vehicles centered around the human experience. The company’s first car, the Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan with a California-inspired design. Assembled at Lucid’s factories in Casa Grande, Arizona, and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), Saudi Arabia, deliveries of Lucid Air are currently underway to customers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Middle East.
AZ Capital Times
In the Arizona desert, a Danish company is building a massive solar farm that includes batteries that charge when the sun is shining and supply energy back to the electric grid when it’s not.
Combining batteries with green energy is a fast-growing climate solution.
“Solar farms only produce when the sun shines, and the turbines only produce when the wind blows,” said Ørsted CEO Mads Nipper. “For us to maximize the availability of the green power, 24-7, we have to store some of it too.”
The United States is rapidly adding batteries, mostly lithium-ion type, to store energy at large scale. Increasingly, these are getting paired with solar and wind projects, like in Arizona. The agencies that run electric grids, utility companies and developers of renewable energies say combining technologies is essential for a green energy future.
Batteries allow renewables to replace fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal, while keeping a steady flow of power when sources like wind and solar are not producing. For example, when people are sleeping and thus using less electricity, the energy produced from wind blowing through the night can be stored in batteries — and used when demand is high during the day.
Juan Mendez, a resident of Tempe, Arizona, gets power from local utility Salt River Project, which is collaborating with Ørsted on the Eleven Mile Solar Center. As a state senator, Mendez pushed SRP to move to renewable energies.
He thinks the power company is still investing too much in gas and coal plants, including a major expansion planned for a natural gas plant in Coolidge, Arizona, near the solar center.
“This solar-plus-storage is a good step, but SRP needs to do more to provide clean energy and clean up our air and help address climate change,” Mendez said.
The utility said it’s adding more renewables to its energy mix and recently pledged to zero out its emissions by 2050.
The U.S. has the second most electrical storage in the world, after China. In 2023, the U.S. added an estimated 7.5 gigawatts — 62% more than in 2022, according to the BloombergNEF and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy factbook. That amount can power 750,000 homes for a day and brings the total amount of installed capacity nationwide to nearly enough for 2 million homes for one day, according to BloombergNEF.
In the U.S., California leads in energy storage as it aggressively cuts greenhouse gas emissions. It has twice as much as any other state. Residential, commercial and utility-scale battery installations increased by 757% there over just four years, meaning there’s now enough to power 6.6 million homes for up to four hours, according to the California Energy Commission.
That’s partly because in 2013, the California Public Utilities Commission told utilities to buy energy storage with a target to be met by 2020. Since then, power companies have continued to add more batteries to help the state meet clean electricity requirements.
Southern California Edison is one utility adding thousands of hours of energy storage. It is putting in solar-plus-batteries to replace some power plants that burn natural gas and would typically supply electricity in the evening.
“If it’s just clean and not reliable, you really don’t have anything,” said William Walsh, vice president for energy procurement and management. “We need both.”
In California, batteries proved their value in September 2022, as the West was experiencing a long heat wave that sent temperatures into the triple digits. Electricity demand reached the highest the state had ever seen on Sept. 6, 2022, as people cranked up air conditioners.
Walsh credits the batteries added to the grid between 2020 and 2022 with helping to avoid blackouts. Two years earlier, there were rolling electricity outages in California during a similar extreme heat wave.
Texas has the second-most battery storage after California. Last month, Schneider Electric announced it’s teaming up with energy company ENGIE North America on solar and battery systems in Texas to get closer to the French multinational’s 100% renewable energy goal in the U.S. and Canada. Before the Inflation Reduction Act, a major climate law passed in 2022, the deal and the necessary $80 million investment would not have been possible, said Hans Royal, Schneider Electric’s senior director for renewable energy and carbon advisory.
Royal is advising other global Fortune 500 companies it works with to get into the market.
“The industry needs that, the grid needs it,” said Royal.
Back in Arizona, Ørsted’s Eleven Mile Solar Center covers 2,000 acres in rural Pinal County. It has 857,000 solar panels and more than 2,000 cubes that look like large shipping containers but contain battery modules. Ørsted also has large solar and storage projects in Texas and Alabama, and in Europe.
When the Arizona facility opens this summer, most power from the solar farm will go to Facebook owner Meta’s data center in Mesa. The solar power not needed by Meta, in addition to the power stored in the batteries, will go to the local utility’s customers. The new batteries can ensure power to roughly 65,000 homes during peak hours of demand.
“What I think is exciting is just how rapidly this market is moving,” said Yayoi Sekine, head of energy storage at BloombergNEF. “There’s so much pressure for the U.S. and different regions to decarbonize, and storage is one of the major technologies to enable that. There’s a lot of momentum.”
Register for the Council’s upcoming Phoenix and Tucson tech events and Optics Valley optics + photonics events.
KTAR News
PHOENIX — Arizona dominated a national ranking that details which U.S. cities lead the way in solar power potential.
Nine cities in Arizona are listed among the top 20 of Roof Gnome’s ranking of “2024’s Best Cities for Solar Energy.”
Roof Gnome is part of the Home Gnome family of home services sites that helps people find home services professionals.
According to its website, Roof Gnome compared nearly 500 of the biggest U.S. cities based on “the solar viability of their roofs, potential solar energy production, as well as projected financial and environmental impact. (Roof Gnome) also measured average grid energy prices, access to solar equipment and services and time to recoup solar investments, among 17 total metrics.”
Phoenix topped the list with an overall score of 65.3. (Click here to see Roof Gnome’s ranking/methodology.)
Scottsdale placed sixth in the rankings followed by Mesa (eighth), Tucson (14th), Chandler (15th), Gilbert (17th), Tempe (18th), Glendale (19th) and Peoria (20th).
Roof Gnome released its rankings to help mark Solar Week, which is observed the last full week of March.
Phoenix Business Journal
Amazon.com Inc. has signed another massive industrial lease in metro Phoenix, adding to its substantial portfolio in the Valley.
Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) will fully lease a 1.2 million-square-foot building for 10 years at The Cubes at Glendale industrial park, according to a new Cushman & Wakefield listing that markets the building for an acquisition opportunity.
The e-commerce giant will occupy building B of the industrial project, located at 15301 W. Northern Ave., which was developed by Chicago-based CRG in an industrial hotbed with major employers including Nestle, Red Bull, White Claw and Walmart.
Amazon was not immediately available for comment about its lease. CRG declined to comment for this story.
The Cubes houses other major tenants including Williams-Sonoma Inc.’s 1.2 million-square-foot facility, a U.S. Merchant manufacturing plant and Saddle Creek Logistic’s warehouse. At full buildout, the Cubes industrial project is expected to total 5.5 million square feet. Four buildings have been developed on the site so far.
A JLL team made up of Bill Honsaker, John Lydon and Kelly Royle are the leasing brokers for The Cubes at Glendale Project. JLL declined to comment.
Amazon was represented by Mike Freret, a market leader for KBC Advisors in Phoenix. Freret could not immediately be reached for comment.
The sales team at Cushman & Wakefield advising on the potential sale of the Amazon-leased building in Glendale includes Will Strong, Kirk Kuller, Michael Matchett, Molly Hunt and Dean Wiley, according to the listing.
Lease is one of Amazon’s biggest recent moves in the Valley
Amazon’s lease is one of its largest in the Valley in recent years. The retailer has continued to expand its footprint in Arizona despite the company’s strategy to sublease millions of square feet of warehouse space as e-commerce business slowed in 2022.
In 2023, Amazon opened its newest Phoenix-area facility in Mesa for a 1.2 million-square-foot storage and distribution center, the largest of its kind in the U.S. It was expected to employ at least 800 people and increase to 1,300 during peak seasons.
Amazon is also looking to start construction on two separate data center projects in Mesa for a pair of 465,451-square-foot buildings.
In total, Amazon has 17 fulfillment and sortation centers in Arizona and 13 delivery stations. The company employs more than 33,000 full- and part-time employees in the state, the Phoenix Business Journal reported in 2023.
The Amazon deal also marks the largest known industrial lease signed in metro Phoenix since 2022, a record year for industrial leasing in the Valley.
Industrial absorption slowed significantly last year after reaching 27 million square feet in 2022, which saw major leases such as a 1.2 million square-foot lease from Lowe’s at The Cubes at Mesa Gateway and Amazon’s 1.1 million-square-foot lease at Elliot 202 in Mesa.
Leasing of buildings totaling 1 million or more square feet dropped off in 2023 while tenants looking for spaces 250,000 square feet or less drove a lot of the leasing last year. The largest lease signed last year was Cubework.com Inc. for 915,160 square feet followed by Saddle Creek Logistics Services for 570,080 square feet.
Although leasing for larger spaces slowed, demand from tenants is still driving high levels of construction across the Valley. About 40 million square feet of industrial inventory was under construction in Q4 after record levels of supply delivered last year.
Activity in some markets have slowed because of high interest rates and companies pausing expansion plans, but the Phoenix area is still seeing leasing and construction numbers that are above pre-Covid levels because of its population growth, companies relocating out of California and the substantial manufacturing growth in the region.
Phoenix Business Journal
Under a new $1.2 billion contract awarded this week, Raytheon’s Arizona unit will provide the German military with a fresh supply of Patriot air and missile defense equipment.
Raytheon, a division of Virginia-based RTX Corp. (NYSE: RTX), whose missile manufacturing operations are based in Tucson, said the contract will supply the most current Patriot Configuration 3+ radars, launchers and command-and-control stations, along with spare parts and support.
The Patriot system is capable of defeating advanced long-range cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles and various air-breathing weapons, which are designed to reach hypersonic speeds. Patriot is the only such system that is combat-proven, Raytheon said.
“This contract reflects the global emphasis on advanced air and missile defense capabilities and the steadfast confidence in Patriot,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “With this expansion, Germany will not only modernize its own significant air defense but enhance its interoperability with allies and further strengthen a core NATO mission.”
The Global Patriot air defense system is used by 19 countries, with more than 240 fire units delivered around the world, Raytheon said. It involves radars and multiple kinds of intercepters against threats. The system has intercepted more than 150 ballistic missiles in combat operations around the world, the company said, with most of those using Raytheon’s Guidance Enhanced Missile surface-to-air weapons.
Raytheon 360-degree radar passes test
In separate news, Raytheon also announced this week that its Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS, completed its fourth successful live-fire demonstration.
The system is a 360-degree air and missile defense radar to be used by the U.S. Army that is intended to provide greater capabilities than current options against manned and unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons.
The latest test took place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where the system acquired and tracked a high-altitude, high-speed cruise missile surrogate, passed the data to the Integrated Battle Command System, or IBCS, and guided a PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missile to the target.
“The advanced capabilities of LTAMDS outpace the global threats of today and tomorrow and allied forces are watching its progress intently,” Laliberty said in a statement. “The solid performance of the radar against these complex and realistic threats validates the radar’s design and demonstrates how this capability will transform the air and missile defense mission.”
With previous LTAMDS program testing taking place in October, further tests are expected this year before “a 360-degree, full sector capability” fielding within the year.
The tests are part of a 2019 contract project that includes six radars.
In another separate deal, a joint venture between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin was awarded a $7,859,917 modification to a 2023 U.S. Army contract for the Javelin Weapon System. The modification is for repair and maintenance support, with work being done in Tucson and expected to be completed by August 30.
Tucson Sentinel
The U.S. Department of Energy is investing $366 million to support clean energy development in rural and remote areas, officials announced Tuesday.
The money will support 17 projects across 20 states and 30 Native American tribal nations.
“President [Joe] Biden firmly believes that every community should benefit from the nation’s historic transition to a clean energy future, especially those in rural and remote areas,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a press release. “DOE is helping revitalize communities across America — ensuring thriving businesses, reliable access to clean energy, and exciting new economic opportunities, now and for generations to come.”
Twelve of the projects are fully on tribal land. One project, which is receiving $10 million, will use solar power to reduce costs for Taos Pueblo households by $700 per year.
Another initiative, led by Native Renewables Inc., will receive $8 million to install solar and battery energy storage systems to provide electricity for 300 homes in the Navajo and Hopi nations. In a 2022 report the Energy Department found that 21% of Navajo and 35% of Hopi tribal homes do not have electricity.
“Many tribal communities, tribal nations generally pay higher than average rates for electricity,” Wahleah Johns, head of the Energy Department’s Office of Indian Energy, told reporters Monday. “They face a high energy burden and energy poverty.”
One project to receive a large payout is the National Association of Community Health Centers, which was awarded more than $57 million. The organization will provide clean energy systems to 175 rural health centers across the Southeast in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association received $45.2 million to create rural electric cooperatives and deploy solar infrastructure in seven rural areas across the country: Anza, California; Arivaca, Arizona; Clinton and Cooke City, Montana; Decatur, Tennessee; Cherry Lane, North Carolina; and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux community in Minnesota.
The U.S. Department of Energy is investing $366 million to support clean energy development in rural and remote areas, officials announced Tuesday.
The money will support 17 projects across 20 states and 30 Native American tribal nations.
“President [Joe] Biden firmly believes that every community should benefit from the nation’s historic transition to a clean energy future, especially those in rural and remote areas,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a press release. “DOE is helping revitalize communities across America — ensuring thriving businesses, reliable access to clean energy, and exciting new economic opportunities, now and for generations to come.”
Twelve of the projects are fully on tribal land. One project, which is receiving $10 million, will use solar power to reduce costs for Taos Pueblo households by $700 per year.
Another initiative, led by Native Renewables Inc., will receive $8 million to install solar and battery energy storage systems to provide electricity for 300 homes in the Navajo and Hopi nations. In a 2022 report the Energy Department found that 21% of Navajo and 35% of Hopi tribal homes do not have electricity.
“Many tribal communities, tribal nations generally pay higher than average rates for electricity,” Wahleah Johns, head of the Energy Department’s Office of Indian Energy, told reporters Monday. “They face a high energy burden and energy poverty.”
One project to receive a large payout is the National Association of Community Health Centers, which was awarded more than $57 million. The organization will provide clean energy systems to 175 rural health centers across the Southeast in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association received $45.2 million to create rural electric cooperatives and deploy solar infrastructure in seven rural areas across the country: Anza, California; Arivaca, Arizona; Clinton and Cooke City, Montana; Decatur, Tennessee; Cherry Lane, North Carolina; and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux community in Minnesota.
“Americans in every pocket of the country can reap the benefits of clean energy,” Granholm told reporters on Monday.
The money comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law. Tuesday’s announcement means federal officials will start negotiations with the project leaders before funding is issued.
“What’s special is how these projects showcase rural and remote communities’ innovative approaches to clean energy deployment,” Granholm said. “Every one of these projects is extremely unique and very specific.”
PADT Inc.
PADT, a globally recognized provider of numerical simulation, product development, and 3D printing products and services, announced its 30th year in business in March 2024. The company was started back in 1994 by four engineers who had a vision of taking advanced computer aided engineering capabilities that were only being used in aerospace and making them available to other industries. Now, the three original founders, Rey Chu, Eric Miller, and Ward Rand, are overseeing a 95-person company headquartered in the ASU Research Park in Tempe, Arizona, with employees across the country and customers around the world.
“We are grateful that the size and scope of PADT exceeds our original dreams. We had a lot of help along the way from our customers, employees, OEM partners, and vendors to reach this moment. Over this span, our core objective remains: Each and every day, earn our place and bring value to the broad Engineering and Manufacturing communities we serve,” commented Ward Rand, Principal and Co-Founder heading up the product sales and support division.
Rey Chu is the Principal and Co-founder of the Digital Manufacturing division. He and his team were pioneers in 3D Printing and are still leading the way in advanced manufacturing. “I am grateful for the chance to have been involved in the entrepreneurial journey of starting and nurturing PADT over this remarkable 30-year span. As we celebrate this milestone with great joy and pride, we are thankful for the trust our customers and partners have bestowed upon us and the unwavering dedication of the entire PADT team that has made it possible.”
“The part of this journey that I did not expect, and that has been the most rewarding, has been the people we have been able to work with — our customers, our partners, and especially our employees through the years. We have seen them grow their careers, businesses, and families. Being even a small part of their personal and professional success has been one of the great pleasures of the past thirty years,” said Eric Miller, Principal and Co-founder leading the engineering consulting division.
“Key to the success of the company are the revolutionary technologies of PADT’s partners – solutions that improve customer livelihood, and PADT is proud to carry and support those products. Our main partner on the software side, Ansys, Inc., is the gold standard in simulation, and Ansys truly enables engineers to predict the future of their designs. Similarly, on the hardware side, Stratasys, Inc. shapes the future of manufacturing by providing the most innovative and reliable 3D printing and additive manufacturing machines and materials. PADT is also honored to partner with Flownex, EOS, and Zeiss to provide their superb products to the communities.”, added Rand.
PADT would not be where it is today if it were not for its engineering and manufacturing services customers as well. Over the decades, the company has provided simulation, design, and 3D Printing to hundreds of firms in support of thousands of projects that helped bring new products to market. These customers quickly became part of the PADT journey, with some still counting on PADT since the early days of a handful of engineers, a smattering of workstations, and one Stereolithography machine.
The company will be celebrating with the community in October as part of their annual Nerdtoberfest open house in Tempe, Arizona, and will have a smaller celebration at their new offices in the Denver, Colorado, area in the fall. Those interested in attending should subscribe to PADT’s monthly newsletter or follow the company on LinkedIn or at padtinc.com/padt30 to stay informed.
If you are interested in experiencing the industry-leading products, outstanding technical expertise, and award-winning customer service offered by PADT, contact us to talk about how you can be part of the next thirty years of making innovation work.
About PADT, Inc
Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies, Inc. (PADT) is an engineering product and services company that focuses on helping customers who develop physical products by providing Numerical Simulation, Product Development, and 3D Printing solutions. The company is an Ansys Elite Channel Partner and a Stratasys Platinum Partner. They are also a channel partner for Flownex, EOS, and ZEISS #handsonmetrology. PADT’s worldwide reputation for technical excellence and experienced staff is based on its proven record of building long-term win-win partnerships with vendors and customers. Since its establishment in 1994, companies have relied on PADT because “We Make Innovation Work.” With over 90 employees, PADT services customers from its headquarters at the Arizona State University Research Park in Tempe, Arizona, and from offices in Torrance, California, Lakewood, Colorado, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as through staff members located around the country. More information on PADT can be found at www.PADTINC.com.
Phoenix Business Journal
The city of Phoenix has approved new water regulations for major water users, but it’s expected to have minimal impact on existing projects.
Phoenix City Council in March moved forward with new rules for facilities that will use more than 250,000 gallons per day with additional requirements for those expected to use more than 500,000 gallons per day.
“Passing our new large water user ordinance is another important milestone in our longstanding commitment to a comprehensive approach to protect our water resources,” said Mayor Kate Gallego in a statement. “This new policy will ensure we are balancing our economic development priorities with the critical need to secure our water supply for generations to come.
All major water users will have to provide a water conservation plan for approval while companies over the 500,000 gallon amount will also have to use recycled or conserved water for 30% of their water demand.
This benchmark was determined by the city based on conversations it had with the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which is building a $40 billion chip manufacturing plant in the Valley, Phoenix staff said during the transportation subcommittee meeting in February.
The 30% can be lowered depending on the economic benefits the city receives in return and if the water received will support a “key industry” for the city’s growth, for example.
If the water users violate the new regulations by using more than what’s allowed, they could be fined 200% to 2,000% of the charges for water used depending on how many violations occur or whether it continues for more than a year.
Before the council’s vote, there were no additional requirements in place for large water users other than complying with city codes and ordinances, according to a city spokesperson.
The new regulations, however, will only impact a small group and not apply to existing users unless they plan to expand their water use to 250,000 gallons or more per day.
The city of Phoenix said that it has about 20 existing large water users, including resorts, hospitals, bottling plants and government entities, KJZZ reported. On average an Arizona household uses about 108,617 gallons in a year. A user that consumes 250,000 gallons a day uses the equivalent of about 840 households per year.
Last summer, the city of Scottsdale adopted a set of nine water-management principles, including one that says Scottsdale will develop policies requiring any general plan amendment or rezoning request for a water use above 100,000 gallons per day to report specific information.