In an effort to reduce disparities between the haves and have-nots when it comes to solar energy, Arizona utility regulators approved a measure that could increase solar energy projects in low-income multifamily housing. 

members unanimously approved a proposal by Arizona Public Service (APS) to allow for “master metering” for solar power at low-income multi-family housing. Under previous rules, utilities and developers were limited in their ability to use master metering, which involves measuring the electric usage of multiple tenants with the same meter. 

The goal is to increase solar in Arizona and open up more options for neighborhoods where renewable energy is scarce, said Chairwoman Lea Márquez Peterson.

“I was proud to put this on the agenda for the commission’s discussion and vote. It’s the next step for solar energy in Arizona,” Márquez Peterson said.

APS and commissioners want to spur more solar power in multi-unit housing within the utility’s service territory that primarily leases to lower-income or very low-income residents as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Public Housing Program. 

Regulators hope to encourage solar in underserved neighborhoods 

The new measure shifts the financial incentive to conserve energy from tenants to property owners and property managers. While property owners would foot the bill for solar installation, in the long run it could benefit both owners and tenants with lower energy costs, commissioners said. Meanwhile, tenants would still be in full control of their own thermostats. 

Ultimately, it could allow landlords to provide low-income housing to more residents at a lower cost, Márquez Peterson said.

Solar typically limited to white, higher-income households

Low-income residents have largely been left out of the increase in solar energy, whether rooftop or community solar projects, research shows. Solar subscribers in the U.S. typically have been higher-income households or are businesses, universities and government agencies.

Less than half of U.S. community solar projects have any participation from low-income households. Of projects that do include lower-earning families, only about 5 percent involve a sizable share, or more than 10 percent, according to a November 2018 survey by the nonprofit .   

On average, Black- and Hispanic-majority census tracts have significantly fewer rooftop solar projects than white-majority or no-majority census tracts, according to an analysis published in . 

States and utilities taking steps to reduce inequities

To address the inequities, states and utilities have been instituting programs to push for more solar policies to help lower- and middle-income households. 

At least a dozen states and Washington, D.C. have developed financial incentives and pilot programs to make it easier for low-income participants to access shared solar, according to the , a national nonprofit coalition of public agencies and organizations working together to advance clean energy. 

Arizona now ranked fourth in nation for solar 

Meanwhile, Arizona is ranked fourth in the nation for solar powered electricity generation, according to a report by the. Arizona’s big utilities — like APS, Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power — are behind the ranking as they invest in renewable energy infrastructure and programs including rooftop solar, solar plants and community solar projects. 

SRP doubling its solar commitment 

In that vein, announced this week that it plans to more than double its 2025 utility-scale solar commitment to add a total of 2,025 megawatts (MW) of new utility-scale solar energy to its power system by the end of fiscal year 2025, driven in part by dedicated customer demand for new renewables. 

This is more than 1,000 MW beyond SRP’s original 2025 commitment of 1,000 MW, announced in November 2018. As part of this 1,025 MW solar increase, 450 MW is enabled by an SRP commercial customer to meet its renewable energy commitments. 

“Doubling solar purchases over the next four years supports our shared goals with our customers to be as proactive as possible to reduce our collective carbon footprint while maintaining our reliability and affordability,” said Mike Hummel, SRP’s CEO and general manager.

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Hydrogen-powered big-rig company Nikola and Arizona Public Service (APS) have received the go ahead from state utility regulators for an agreement to use surplus electricity to generate clean hydrogen gas to power fuel cell vehicles. 

The deal provides Phoenix-based with a competitive electric rate specifically designed for the production, processing, and dispensing of hydrogen to accelerate the development of carbon-free vehicles and fueling stations for the transportation industry. 

It’s another step forward to the realization of a zero-emission heavy-duty freight corridor along the I-10 freeway between Phoenix and Los Angeles, company officials and state regulators said.  

“The approval of this special rate for hydrogen production is critical for advancing the future of zero-emissions transportation and building a hydrogen economy,” Nikola CEO Mark Russell said.

Advancing hydrogen economy in the state

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) unanimously approved the application from APS for the new rate structure this month, which  could serve as a national model for additional hydrogen production facilities, ACC Chairwoman Lea Márquez Peterson said. 

Arizona will benefit with cleaner air, jobs for the new economy, and increased economic development, she said. 

“For decades, hydrogen has been a promising, but elusive, source of clean energy for both the transportation and power sectors. We simply haven’t done enough to bring hydrogen to the mainstream,” Márquez Peterson said.

Under the rate structure, Nikola officials said they will be able to deliver hydrogen at “market leading prices” and within the ranges required for Nikola to offer competitive lease rates for its trucks’ customers. 

The company anticipates deploying hundreds of millions of dollars in capital to construct its hydrogen facilities throughout the state and employ a diverse workforce in doing so, they said.  

Win-win for electric customers and APS, too 

APS, which filed the application for the unique rate structure in December, will also benefit from the agreement. The hydrogen fueling stations will require a very high load capacity, above 92-percent. Customers with high load factors provide operational and other economic benefits to the distribution system. 

These customers help to reduce the overall cost for APS to serve all of its customers, flattening the overall load profile and allowing APS to operate its power plants in a more efficient manner, reducing the per kilowatt hour costs to APS customers, APS officials said.

Production of hydrogen-electric long haul trucks coming

Phoenix-based is a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure. 

In a venture with Italian industrial truck maker , Nikola is planning production of a battery-electric semi truck next year in Ulm, Germany. 

Nikola also has begun construction of a $600-million electric truck assembly plant in Coolidge, Ariz., where it plans to start constructing a fuel-cell semi truck in 2023. The hydrogen-electric powered semi-truck is for the medium and long-haul trucking sectors, with more than 1,000 horsepower and 2,000 ft. lbs. of torque.

To power these trucks, Nikola plans to build hydrogen across Arizona and North America. 

To view Nikola’s Two hydrogen-electric powered semi trucks in action, visit .

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A first-of-its-kind proposal to allow private industry to synchronize electric customers’ smart devices and receive compensation for helping utilities operate the electric grid more efficiently was unanimously approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC).

If successful, Arizona would be the first state to permit third-party providers to aggregate and control a portfolio of potentially millions of smart devices that large utilities could use to more efficiently allocate and store energy for the grid. 

That could result in lower electric bills for homes and businesses and generate new smart technologies and industries here in Arizona, said Lea Márquez Peterson, the new chair of the utility regulating commission who  introduced the proposal. 

Márquez Peterson and her fellow commissioners voted to give the state’s  largest electric utility, Arizona Public Service (APS), the go ahead to develop a “tariff” for the project — a plan that lays out the structure, fees and other parameters of the program — and move it forward after board review and approval. 

“The proposal allows aggregators of all kinds and technologies to participate in APS’ tariff, opening the door to potentially untapped market opportunities and economic development,” Márquez Peterson said. “Previously, rooftop solar was the only tool in the distributed energy toolbox. 

“But now, we have so much more. Air conditioners, appliances, devices, and batteries, even entire homes, as long as they are connected to the internet, can now be called upon to shift and respond to the grid. That’s extremely valuable.”

Tapping into millions of smart devices to benefit grid

These electric grid resources could include an array of smart devices and energy efficiency improvements, such as internet connected ‘smart’ thermostats and ENERGYSTAR appliances, as well as at-home batteries. 

Through aggregation, they can help to reduce the total cost to the grid by reducing or shifting the time of energy used, reducing the amount of power needed during the most expensive times of day, utilizing or storing more power during the most affordable times of day, or otherwise improving the operating efficiency of the grid.

Companies, customers benefit based on value they provide

The third party companies providing the service for APS, potentially other utilities in the future, would be compensated for the value each provides to the grid. This would include compensation for the value of energy, capacity, demand reduction, load shifting, voltage support, and other ancillary services, to name a few, the chairwoman said. 

Consumers participating in the program also would be compensated based on the value they provide. 

“Our smart infrastructure, combined with Arizona’s digital connectivity and demand curve, which is unique to the Western United States, makes the Desert Southwest, and Arizona specifically, the perfect place to study demand-side optimization and lead on cutting-edge energy innovations and regulatory policies,” she said. 

New chair brings business approach to regulatory body

Márquez Peterson, who is the only commissioner based outside of Maricopa County, brings a strong business background and education with her to the utility-regulatory commission. 

Before being appointed to the commission in 2019 and her recent election in November, she served as the president and CEO of the and executive director for .

She was the owner and operator of a business brokerage firm and a chain of six gasoline station-convenience stores in the Tucson region. She earned her undergraduate degrees in Tucson in marketing and entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona, and her master’s degree in business administration from Pepperdine University in California.

Among the many boards she serves on are the Pima County Workforce Investment Board, University of Arizona Foundation, president of the National Association of Women Business Owners in Tucson, and a member of the national U.S. Small Business Association’s Small Business Development Council advisory board. 

Calling on stakeholders to participate in proposal

Stakeholders such as technology companies, consumer product manufacturers, and third-party aggregators that are involved in providing energy services or devices for the grid such as battery storage, energy efficiency, smart devices, smart appliances, internet of things, home energy monitoring devices, and ancillary services interested in getting involved in the development of the project, go to: . 

A copy of the proposal can be viewed .

About the Arizona Corporation Commission

The ACC was established by the state constitution to regulate public utilities and business incorporation. The commission is Arizona’s co-equal, fourth branch of government. The five Commissioners elected to the Corporation Commission oversee executive, legislative, and judicial proceedings on behalf of Arizonans when it comes to their water, electricity, telephone, and natural gas resources as well as the regulation of securities, pipeline, and railroad safety. To learn more about the commission and its commissioners, visit: .

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Arizona Public Service (APS) is one of very few electric utilities worldwide to achieve a double ‘A’ score for climate and water stewardship this year from the not-for-profit charity CDP, which operates a global disclosure and scoring program designed to encourage investors and businesses to act on environmental issues. 

Only four out of almost 6,000 utilities received a double A score this year. One was Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, of which APS is its principal subsidiary. It also is the only North American utility to receive both ratings this year. 

“I am extremely proud to announce that for the second straight year, we have secured a place on their prestigious #CDP A List for tackling climate change and acting to ensure water security in our state,” Eric Massey, director of environmental, social and governance (ESG) policy and reporting for APS, after CDP released the scores last month.  

CDP uses a detailed and independent methodology to assess companies, allocating a score of A to D based on the comprehensiveness of disclosure, awareness and management of environmental risks, and demonstration of best practices associated with environmental leadership.

“Taking the lead on environmental transparency and action is one of the most important steps businesses can make, and is even more impressive in this challenging year marked by COVID-19,” CDP CEO Paul Simpson said in extending congratulations to the companies who made the A List this year. 

APS commitment to 100 percent carbon-free electricity 

APS received the score for its transparency and efforts to protect air and water including a commitment to deliver 100 percent clean, carbon-free electricity by 2050. 

The utility has been adding battery energy storage to its utility-scale solar plants in Arizona and expanding its renewable energy portfolio, including recently signing a power purchase agreement for 200 megawatts of additional wind energy. It has reduced its consumption of groundwater 22 percent from 2014 to 2019. The utility also operates the Palo Verde Generating Station, the largest nuclear plant and the single-largest generator of carbon-free electricity in the U.S.

CDP’s annual environmental disclosure and scoring process 

CDP, which recently celebrated its 20th year, created the global disclosure and scoring program to promote corporate environmental transparency and provide information for environmentally minded investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts.

In 2020, more than 515 investors with more than $106 trillion in assets and 150-plus major purchasers with $4 trillion in procurement spending requested companies to disclose data on environmental impacts, risks and opportunities through platform. More than 9,600 responded – the highest ever.

“The scale of the risk to businesses from climate change, deforestation and water insecurity is enormous, and we know the opportunities of action far outweigh the risks of inaction,” Simpson of CDP said. “Leadership from the private sector will create an ‘ambition loop’ for greater government action and ensure that global ambitions for a net zero sustainable economy become a reality.”

Arizona electric utilities facing forces of nature head on  

The recent CDP score is one of many examples of how Arizona’s three largest utilities — APS, Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) — have become some of the most forward thinking companies when it comes to the environment.  

It’s a matter of survival. Arizona’s extreme heat and dry conditions present a unique challenge for electric companies. For example, over the past 25 years, about a dozen Arizona locations topped the nation for having the hottest year, including Buckeye, Laveen, the Yuma airport and Bullhead City. Phoenix is now the , according to national climate data. 

To address the forces of nature head on, the utilities have invested heavily in renewable and clean energy infrastructure and are advancing new technologies like battery storage and solar energy.

They also have been focused on protecting and conserving diminishing water supplies. 

SRP, for example, is involved in replenishing the state’s water supply through a massive public-private reforestation project, the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (). The Phoenix region’s largest water provider is also on target to meet its 2035 Sustainability Goals, which call for a reduction of CO2 emitted from generation by 65 percent by 2035 and 90 percent by 2050.

TEP, which has set a goal to provide more than 70 percent of its power from wind and solar resources by 2035, also has committed to eliminate the use of surface water for power generation and a 70 percent reduction in groundwater use.
To see the full list of companies that made this year’s CDP A List, along with other publicly available company scores, go to: .

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The Arizona Corporation Commission has approved a pilot program for Arizona Public Service (APS) to offer incentives for residents to purchase energy storage battery systems in their homes next year. 

Under the pilot program, the first of its kind in the state, homeowners could receive up to $2,500 for the purchase and installation of at-home energy storage devices that can capture electricity from the grid or rooftop solar and dispatch it for later use. 

Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson, who led the effort to advance the program, said she hopes a similar program can be offered by Tucson Electric Power. Eventually, small businesses, retail and commercial industries could be involved if the experiment proves successful.

APS, which worked with storage stakeholders and the utility commission to put together the pilot, must finalize all of the details before it officially kicks off next year. 

To encourage homeowners to participate, the 3-year pilot program includes other benefits including:

• Customers who participate in the pilot will receive an increased incentive per household from $300 per kilowatt to $500 per kilowatt

• Grandfathered net metering rooftop solar customers will remain grandfathered if they install new energy storage devices under the program

Energy storage currently a luxury item 

So far, energy storage battery systems are considered luxury items because of their high cost. A typical energy storage system ranges from $4,000 to $14,000 depending on the size and capacity. 

“Typical batteries for a typical home are between 5 and 10 kilowatts and they’re still fairly pricey,”  said Márquez Peterson. “So the ultimate decision homeowners will have to make is, is this something they’re willing to invest in–to be a first mover.”  

Arizona needs to be on leading edge of energy innovation 

An ultimate goal of the pilot is to advance energy storage technology and bring down the price for mainstream buyers. 

“Obviously we want to see the price of batteries come down and that’s not going to happen until they are more convenient and accessible for everybody to purchase, so I’m very proud to support this pilot program,” Márquez Peterson said. 

Data from the pilot program will help utilities and commissioners better understand the distribution system, how it impacts the entire grid and best practices for Arizona’s unique climate.    

“We don’t want rolling blackouts like in California,” she said. “Battery storage is one solution to that. So we want to see what the ease of storing and calling up the power when needed and then help the advancement of new market entrants to help overall technology costs come down.”

Arizona continues to progress towards cleaner future 

The residential battery program is just one step being taken by utilities and the Corporation Commission to advance clean energy technologies and attract industry to the state.  

This month, the Corporation Commission approved a requirement for utilities to be 100 percent free of carbon emissions by 2050. Nearby states have passed similar requirements including Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico. 

Arizona’s two largest electric utilities, and , have also been transforming their operations to achieve their own carbon-free goals.

By moving forward on clean energy, Arizona will be better positioned to compete on the  national and global markets, Márquez Peterson said.

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Arizonans who have had a significant impact on economic development and social progress in the state were named winners of the annual 2020 Black & White Ball and Business Awards from the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AHCC). 

Four individuals and one company were honored for their long service and contributions to Arizona and the Latino community at the chamber’s 62nd Business Awards last Friday. Cox Communications was the prime sponsor and presenter.  

This year, the event was held during the AHCC’s new virtual Leadership Conference to Address Diversity & Inclusion. Due to COVID-19, the Black & White Ball — the state’s longest running formal gala — had to be rescheduled to next year.  

“It is times like this, that our resilience is tested most. The event takes on new meaning this year as we hear firsthand how these exceptional individuals from our community are leading their organizations through these uncertain times, emerging stronger and more successful,” said Monica Villalobos, CEO and president of the chamber. 

The 2020 winners are:

Man of the Year Award David Adame, president and CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa (), has helped build the nonprofit into one of the largest Hispanic community development corporations in the U.S. He has led its expansive growth in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. 

CPLC, which was founded in 1969 to confront discrimination against Mexican-American students in Phoenix, today provides services to help almost 380,000 people access healthcare, affordable housing, a quality education, political representation, and more.

Adame, who was born and raised just south of downtown Phoenix, got his first professional start at CPLC as the director of economic development in 1985. Along the way, he also has crafted a career in business, including extensive experience in real estate and development projects. Among his former positions are vice president of Arizona operations for McCormack Baron & Salazar and senior deputy director of Fannie Mae’s Arizona Partnership Office. 

Over the decades, Adame has served on too many boards to mention, including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council; the AARP Foundation; the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders; the Arizona-Mexico Commission; the Maricopa

Community Colleges Foundation; Unidos US; and Community Reinvestment Fund USA. 

Adame is the recipient of numerous honors, as well, including the Individual Hero of Education Award by Maricopa Community Colleges and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Woman of the Year Maria Lacal is the first female chief nuclear officer at Arizona Public Service’s Palo Verde Generating Station, one of the world’s largest producers of carbon-free energy. Lacal, who was promoted to the position last year, is only the second woman in the U.S. to hold such a title.  

Lacal joined APS in 2007 as director of strategic projects. Today, she is responsible for all nuclear-related activities associated with the power plant, the nuclear assurance division, and employee concerns and safety culture programs.

Lacal’s long record of community service includes as chairman of the Academy Council for the National Academy for Nuclear Training; and member of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Executive Advisory Group; the University of Arizona’s Eller School of Business National Board of Advisors; and U.S. Women in Nuclear Executive Advisory Council.

Entrepreneur of the Year Omar Alvarez’ desire to create economic opportunity coupled with his love of a particular torta shop in his family’s homeland of Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico, inspired him to go into the restaurant business in Arizona. Today, Alvarez operates popular and growing culinary concepts in the Phoenix metro area: Tortas Paquime, Paquime Street Food of Mexico and Pa’La Wood Fired Cooking.

In 2002, Omar opened Tortas Paquime #1 with a few employees to bring a taste of Mexico to an emerging market. Today, TPQ Foods operates eight locations with 3 distinct concepts and a central commissary, which employ more than 100 employees.

Through it all, Alvarez said he focuses on three principles: hard work, collaboration and quality. Among his restaurant musts? A professional staff, top customer service, spotless dining areas and consistency in a “mom and pop” environment. 

Alvarez’ also supports multiple local non-profit organizations and hosts annual holiday parties to provide food, gifts and toys to children and families; sponsors local school events; and provides scholarships to students. 

Legacy Award Sharon Harper is the longtime chairman, CEO and co-founder of Plaza Companies, overseeing all facets of operations, including the ownership, development, leasing or management of nearly 12 million square feet of Arizona medical office properties, senior living facilities and bioscience/biotechnology centers.

With Harper at the helm, Plaza Companies has emerged as an industry leader, setting a national standard of excellence for an impressive lineup of award-winning facilities.

In addition to her business acumen, Harper has decades of community service in Arizona. To name just a few of her current and former positions: vice chairman of Trustees of ASU; trustee of McCain Institute for International Leadership; trustee of the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust; board member of TGen; past chair of Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Greater Phoenix Leadership; and chair of the Banner Health Foundation.

Among her many accolades are NAIOP’s 2019 Award of Excellence; 2019 Leader of the Year in Public Policy for the Economy; 2019 Inés Pascal Award for Generous Service by Brophy College Preparatory Academy: 2019 Induction into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame; and 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from Phoenix Theatre.

Corporation of the Year Award The American Automobile Association in the Grand Canyon region also was recognized for its community involvement under Regional Vice President Tiger Lapira. 

In his role, Lapira has been the executive sponsor for the Business Resource Group, E.X.C.E.L (Excellence in Cultural Engagement & Leadership), and the Grand Canyon Region is host to the Business Resource Group, Unidos.

AHCC helping businesses grow 

Founded in 1948, the AZHCC has been playing an important role in the state’s business community for over 70 years by promoting economic development, entrepreneurship, and representing the interests of the state’s more than 125,000 Hispanic-owned businesses and more than 2 million Hispanic consumers statewide.

Along with workshops, seminars, public forums and business networking activities, the chamber operates Arizona’s only federally funded Minority Business Development Agency, which provides access to contracts and capital for mid-sized companies in the state. 

The AZHCC also operates the center serving American Indian, Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiians in Arizona, Utah and Nevada.

For more information, go to . 

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Two of Arizona’s biggest power utilities have been giving back to the community’s most underserved members in the form of solar energy.

Arizona Public Service (APS) and Salt River Project (SRP) have each started programs to bring solar energy to the people — and charity organizations — who need it most.

As part of its Solar Communities program, APS donated enough solar panels to cover 144 spaces in the main parking lot for St. Vincent de Paul, a global nonprofit organization whose Phoenix chapter serves the Valley’s homeless population.

“The Solar Communities program enables limited- and moderate-income residential customers as well as non-residential customers such as Title 1 schools, rural governments and nonprofits to participate in clean energy while receiving a bill credit for their support,” said Tammy Kasprowicz, Solar Communities project manager

St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) applied to be a part of the Solar Communities program and met all the requirements, she said.

“St. Vincent de Paul and many other incredible organizations benefiting our community will be further supporting their communities by helping to provide renewable, clean energy to the community around them while benefiting from a bill credit that they can then apply to the resources they currently offer,” Kasprowicz said.

Energy harvested by the — which generates enough power to run 86 homes per day — significantly reduces energy costs for the charity, sending savings back to programs that help people in need, according to SVdP.

“We are so thrilled and so grateful for this project,” said Steve Zabilski, executive director of SVdP in Phoenix. “This is literally a million-dollar project for APS, and with our focus on serving economically-challenged families, we could never have afforded such an investment.”

APS is Arizona’s largest public utility, with more than 1.4 gigawatts of solar energy available to customers today. APS predicts that renewable energy sources, including solar, will grow from 12 percent to 18 percent of the company’s overall energy mix over the next 15 years.

has also made serving the community a primary mission. The Tempe-based utility’s “Solar for Nonprofits” program helps charitable organizations reduce their energy costs by providing and installing solar panel systems.

“Nonprofits serve the communities and our customers, and SRP is committed to providing programs that help our communities thrive,” said Dan Dreiling, director of customer programs at SRP.

Since 2007, the program has completed 49 solar system installations, helping nonprofits save more than $600,000 collectively while providing green, emission-free energy for their buildings, according to SRP.

Earlier this month, the company announced it has donated solar systems to three Valley nonprofits: A New Leaf, which provides shelter and resources to homeless youth, domestic abuse victims and others who are struggling; Arizona Humane Society, a no-kill that takes in abused and abandoned pets; and the Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center (AAEC), an early college high school system that partners with community colleges that offers students the chance to earn college-transferable credits while completing high school classes.

“At SRP, we believe in giving back to the community, and we do that in a number of ways through contributions and employees who volunteer in the community,” Dreiling said.

Principal Eric Stevens said he considered the solar panels to be a “great opportunity” for the school.

“Any money saved as a part of lowering our energy consumption will go into broadening and enhancing educational opportunities for our students,” he said.

SRP’s Solar for Nonprofits program is funded by SRP and its customers, who can opt-in to contribute as little as $3 a month.

“This is a great partnership with our customers who contribute to the program, and an impactful way to invest in green energy while helping nonprofit agencies direct more funds to the communities they serve,” Dreiling said. “The program supports our commitment to investing in Arizona-produced, solar energy projects that also benefit the nonprofit arena.”

According to the Arizona Humane Society, the savings from the solar installation at the organization’s Nina Mason Pullman Campus for Compassion could be used to help treat 530 orphaned, newborn kittens or 220 puppies and dogs in need of treatment for Parvovirus.

“The impact that the savings from the solar installation will have on hundreds of the Valley’s most vulnerable animals is truly lifesaving,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, president and CEO of the Arizona Humane Society. “These funds will ensure that the efforts taking place in critical medical areas such as AHS’ trauma hospital, Parvo Puppy ICU and newborn kitten nursery will go even further to save the lives of pets who are not often given a second chance in other shelters.”

A New Leaf CEO Michael Hughes said he was thrilled when he learned that SRP would be donating solar panels, calling the project “innovation with a heart.”

Dreiling said SRP plans to continue the Solar for Nonprofits program, promoting the cause to attract new customers who may be interested in participating.

As for APS, SVdP served as the inaugural nonprofit construction and installation site for the Solar Communities program, which will continue to partner with established Arizona nonprofits to provide solar-generating parking panels.

The project began in February 2019, coordinated by SVdP Senior Advisor Steve Gervais. The panels were fully installed, wired to the grid and generating solar energy by June.

“It was an honor for St. Vincent de Paul to be selected as the first site under the APS Solar Communities program for nonprofits in Arizona,” Gervais said. “By any standard, this was no small project.”

Kasprowicz said APS is committed to helping solar energy expand as a resource for Arizona.

“We are advancing Arizona’s solar leadership while providing safe, reliable and increasingly clean energy to our more than 1.2 million customers,” she said. “In addition to expanding access to solar for customers statewide, our Solar Communities program is helping to maintain solar jobs in Arizona, which benefits the state’s economy.”

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The nation’s largest nuclear power plant, Palo Verde Generating Station west of Phoenix, provides 70 percent of the state’s clean energy. No carbon emissions. No air pollutants.

Year after year, Arizona’s nuclear power plant is recognized among the best in the nation for safety and reliability by the industry’s Institute of Nuclear Power Operations and the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

These are a couple of facts the plant’s Chief Nuclear Officer Robert Bement wants the public to know. As CNO, Bement is responsible for everything “nuclear-associated” at the plant.

The former nuclear-trained submarine electrician and licensed senior reactor operator spoke with 91ֱ�� recently during a tour of the plant, during which one of the three reactors was undergoing a shutdown for refueling.

Bringing in the light

The tour is part of the plant’s efforts to open up its doors to make the public more aware of how important Palo Verde is to Arizona and the Southwest, Bement said.

“We used to run nuclear power plants like the Navy. Run silent. Run deep,” said Bement, who started his career in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear-submarine electrician.

As renewable energy has become more of a topic in the political arena, facts about how renewable and nuclear energy complement each other to benefit the environment and ratepayers is often lacking, Bement said.

“What we do is so important. People sell fear of nuclear plants, but millions of lives have been saved by clean nuclear energy,” he said, referring to nuclear’s zero carbon emissions.

Now, the plant reaches out regularly to the media, schools, science teachers and others to educate and excite people about potential careers in the nuclear field.

A peek inside

With the reactor down for refueling, the news media were invited to take a peek inside the 4,000-acre Palo Verde complex.

Reactors are shut down every 18 months to be refueled and undergo preventive maintenance. The process takes about three months and involves about 3,000 employees.

Media outlets were able to tour the site where nuclear waste is stored in steel-and-concrete columns — earthquake proof. They were also allowed to enter the containment area where the reactor sits in a large, square concrete enclosure.

One-third of employees are veterans

Like Bement, about one-third of Palo Verde employees have military backgrounds. It shows.

Every procedure must be completed with military precision and care.

Safety and security measures are intense, with armed guards and the company’s own fire department on site. Visitors must go through metal, explosives and radiation detectors when moving through the complex. Delivery trucks undergo two inspection stops. An is always on-site.

Scientists, politicians, Bill Gates go nuclear

Many scientists and others consider nuclear energy an important solution for climate change. Business moguls like Bill Gates, utilities like Westinghouse Electric Company and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have been pushing for more innovation and investment in nuclear energy.

There are many reasons to be excited about nuclear energy, Bement said. Here’s why…

Nuclear power saves lives

Palo Verde is the largest producer of clean-air energy in the nation, serving more than 4 million people in the Southwest and generating more than 32 million megawatt-hours of electric power annually.

Power generation operations to date at Palo Verde have offset the emission of almost 484 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking up to 84 million cars off the road for one year; more than 253,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide; and 618,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxide, according to the operator of the plant.

Minuscule waste from nuclear energy

For its massive output, nuclear energy produces a miniscule amount of waste.

If all the nuclear waste were collected from one person’s use over a lifetime, it would only fill one soda can, Bement explained.

All of the nuclear waste collected at Palo Verde over the past 30 years is stored on-site. The waste is currently stored in cement-and-steel containers that take up a space the size of a football field.

Only plant in the world not on a lake

Palo Verde is the only large nuclear power plant in the world that is not located near a body of water. Instead, it pumps treated sewage from nearby cities and towns to treat it and reuse it for the plant’s cooling needs.

Self regulation and federal oversight working

After the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, when a reactor suffered a partial meltdown, the industry stepped up and created a self-regulating body, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO).

INPO sends experts to conduct plant evaluations at nuclear stations and identify strengths and areas for improvement as a method to share best practices and common weaknesses.

Since INPO started, plant safety has gone up dramatically across member institutions, Bement said.  Palo Verde consistently receives the most favorable score, called an “INPO 1.”

The NRC also oversees the plant through licensing, inspection and regulatory enforcement.

Palo Verde financial boon for West Valley

As the nation’s largest energy producer, Palo Verde provides an annual economic impact of more than $2 billion to the state, Bement said. Of that, $55 million is property taxes, and over half comes from ratepayers outside the state.

Throughout the year, the plant employs about 2,500 full-time employees. During shutdowns, an additional 800 to 1,000 employees are hired.

Learn more facts about nuclear power from the federal .

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With another move attacking Arizona Public Service, it appears California billionaire and now presidential candidate Tom Steyer cannot seem to quit Arizona.

Steyer’s attacks against the Arizona utility date back to the 2018 election cycle when his attempt to mandate onerous new renewable energy standards was rejected by voters in a 2 to 1 margin.

Now, Steyer is using a digital ad to accuse the company of corruption. This is the second time in recent months that Steyer has inserted himself into Arizona issues.

Many observers attribute his behavior to a desperate attempt to increase his name ID in the state and salvage his reputation after and painful and expensive loss in the fall.

“California billionaire Tom Steyer can’t stop meddling in Arizona politics,” Arizonans for Affordable Electricity spokesperson Matt Benson said. “It was just last year that Arizona voters overwhelmingly rejected Steyer’s Prop 127, which would have added $1,000/year to the typical family’s electricity bill. Now he’s back – this time as a self-described ‘ratepayer advocate.’

“You’re not fooling anybody, Tom.”

The California billionaire, who made millions investing in fossil fuels, is inserting himself in Arizona policy conversations claiming the state is being misguided by corporations and elected leaders. But the state’s economy has been booming for the past year with local economists touting the diversity in job and industry growth.

Arizona’s economy continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the nation, ranking fourth in the U.S. for GDP growth last year and second in the country for personal income growth.

More than 300,000 new jobs have been added since 2015 and Arizona is projected to add another 165,000 new jobs by 2020.

Also, the greater Phoenix metropolitan area has officially eclipsed its pre-recession job peaks in almost every industry.

“Arizona is open for business and our economy is booming,” said Governor Doug Ducey in a statement. “It’s not by accident: Arizona’s pro-business policies, low taxes and light regulations are delivering more job opportunities and bigger paychecks for Arizona workers.”

Business community advocates say Steyer’s latest advertisements are likely to prove as unsuccessful as his previous political activities in the state.

“This guy apparently can’t take a hint,” Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesperson Garrick Taylor said. “Arizonans have rejected over and over Steyer’s job-killing agenda, but yet he keeps coming back here. Arizona’s economy is doing just fine without Steyer, thank you very much, in large part because lawmakers and the governor have studiously avoided the sort of policies he advocates.”

Steyer’s efforts in Arizona began in 2018 when his progressive political action committee, NextGen Climate Action, launched an effort to mandate that utilities provide half their annual retail sales from renewable energy sources by 2030 “irrespective of cost to consumers.” The effort excluded zero-emission nuclear energy from the definition of renewable energy.

Then in May, Steyer portrayed himself as a ratepayer advocate by engaging in an APS rate case before the Arizona Corporation Commission. Many were quick to point out that his 2018 energy mandate, known as Proposition 127, would have increased costs on Arizona residents, including low-income families and small businesses. Estimates revealed the typical Arizona family would see its utility bills increase by $1,000 or more over the course of a year.

In addition to the $28 million Steyer dumped into the failed campaign, he also attacked Republican candidates, spending more than $3 million against Attorney General Mark Brnovich and engaging in the Arizona Corporation Commission race through dark money groups such as ChispaAZ.

On Tuesday morning, Steyer announced his candidacy for president in a digital video. Steyer plans to spend at least $100 million on his campaign.

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