Water, climate change, land protection are key legislative issues for environmental groups
As a 20-year megadrought intensifies the effects of climate change across the Southwest, causing shortages on the Colorado River, increasing the frequency and magnitude of wildfires and putting wildlife and human health in danger, the Sierra Club and other environmental advocates are urging state leaders to take bold action before it’s too late.
Western wildfires destroyed 246% more buildings over past decade – scientists explain why
In a new study, we found a 246% increase in the number of homes and structures destroyed by wildfires in the contiguous Western U.S. between the past two decades, 1999-2009 and 2010-2020. This trend is strongly influenced by major fires in 2017, 2018 and 2020, including destructive fires in Paradise and Santa Rosa, California, and in Colorado, Oregon and Washington. […]
Ignoring gas planning means utility customers lose
Data and information play a fundamental role in managing our daily lives. Utility customers want to believe their utilities thoroughly investigate what combination of resources is needed for their future needs. Whether those resources are new or making the old infrastructure more efficient, we expect utilities like Southwest Gas to evaluate and identify various procurement […]
Solar, storage project underway at Grand Canyon West
The Hualapai Tribe in Northern Arizona partnered with Tucson-based SOLON Corp. to develop, design and construct a new solar energy project and battery energy system (BESS) near the visitor center at Grand Canyon West. Recently the Hualapai Tribe celebrated the project with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by members of the Tribal Council, the tribe’s project […]
Nikola (NKLA) relocates its battery manufacturing to put all EV production under one roof
Commercial EV manufacturing Nikola Corporation announced it is moving its battery manufacturing operation from its current site in Cypress, California to its production facility in Coolidge, Arizona. With the move, Nikola will create on holistic EV assembly process all taking place under one roof. With the start of 2023, Nikola Corporation ($NKLA) continues to make strides forward, furthering its […]
Tucson company a part of a $42 million project to improv electric vehicle battery technology
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a $42 million plan to make advanced electric vehicle batteries cheaper and more efficient in America. And a Tucson company will take part. The EVs4ALL program selected 12 teams from universities, national laboratories and the private sector to develop new battery technologies to make way for easy electric vehicle adoption.
Maricopa County’s ozone pollution is high and getting worse
PHOENIX – Maricopa County’s ozone levels are getting worse, harming the health of its 4.5 million residents and threatening to cost the region billions of dollars in the coming years. The Environmental Protection Agency on Sept. 16 reclassified the county from marginal to moderate for non-attainment of ozone limits. This means we not only are […]
Solar Co. Announces First U.S. Solar Module Manufacturing Facility In Phoenix
JA Solar, a global solar cell and module manufacturing leader, announced today it has leased space for its first manufacturing facility in the U.S. in Phoenix, Arizona. The new facility will produce high-performance photovoltaic (PV) products, and is expected to be operational by Q4 2023, creating over 600 new jobs.
ADOT planning statewide network of EV chargers
Electric vehicle drivers across Arizona can expect more chargers on interstate highways in the next few years, which means longer road trips. The Arizona Department of Transportation will oversee the upgrade of existing chargers and installation of new ones along five interstate highways, thanks to $76.5 million in funding via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that […]
Phoenix Commits to 100% Zero-Emission Bus Fleet by 2040
Phoenix City Council voted 8-0 to transition 100% of the city’s bus fleet to zero-emission models by 2040. Phase 1 of this transition plan includes a moratorium on purchasing compressed natural gas (CNG) buses after 2024, thereafter purchasing only low- and zero-emission buses, including hybrid-electric, battery-electric, and fuel-cell-electric buses.
