COMING CLEAN ON CHANGES IN ENERGY PRODUCTION

Life is full of surprises.

Like this one: Only 11.4% of Arizona’s total electricity came from solar, wind, and energy storage power plants in 2022, according to industry group American Clean Power. That put the state in 25th place in the nation.

Living in the land of endless sunshine would make anyone here think the first figure should be bigger and the other should be higher.

Still, the numbers behind those two numbers pack a powerful punch when it comes to the state of clean energy in Arizona. Nearly 11,500 renewable energy jobs exist in the state, according to the Chambers for Innovation & Clean Energy’s 2022 Arizona Clean Energy Jobs & Economic Impact Report. Add to that, $15 billion in capital has been invested in wind, solar and energy storage projects.

Operating wind, solar, and energy storage capacity in Arizona is credited with generating 3,526 megawatts (MW) in 2022. That’s enough clean energy to power 613,000 homes in the state. Clean energy also resulted in $17.3 million going to local communities through property, state, and local taxes in 2022.

In addition, thanks to wind, solar and storage projects in Arizona, just under 5.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions were avoided. That is the same as leaving 1.15 million cars in the garage permanently.

It’s unlikely a surprise that the constant sunshine in Arizona provided more power than all other clean energy sources combined and offers giant potential for the solar industry. The state already ranks fifth in the nation for installed solar energy and sixth for solar employment. Solar Energy Industries Association reported 8,278 solar jobs in 2021 and 296 related companies for Arizona.

More recently, nearly 6,000 MW of solar had been installed through the second quarter of 2022 for a total investment of $13.9 million.

Solar makes sense as a viable alternative beyond just the amount of sunshine here. Solar power, especially in the Southwest, is now the energy market’s cheapest source, most price stable and most reliable source. In fact, solar will make up roughly half of the new generating capacity added in the U.S. this year.

Significant solar installations already are online in the state. They include:

• Sunstreams in Hassayampa was developed from 2020 to 2021. The 398.4-MW project produces enough electricity to power nearly 60,500 homes.

• Saint Solar in Coolidge is among the largest solar installations here. Completed in 2021, this 135-MW solar project has enough electric capacity to supply nearly 20,500 homes.

• Intel’s 129-MW East Line Solar project in Coolidge is the largest corporate project in the state.

OK, enough with the numbers. For the real stories on what’s happening in clean energy in Arizona, I invite you to take a look at the rest of this issue of TechConnect.

Call it powerful reading.