The National Association of Manufacturers and several business groups are calling on Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to consider the impact the new Environmental Protection Agency ruling on PM2.5 will have on businesses. 

PM2.5 refers to air particles that are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.

The EPA in March lowered the standard for PM2.5 in its National Ambient Air Quality Standards rule by 25%, down from 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air to nine. NAM has sued to block the new standard.

EPA calls for steeper cut with a faster timeline

NAM has that the EPA’s new ruling is far more restrictive than other countries, with the UK aiming to lower its standard to 10 micrograms by 2040. 

“The new standard will also put the United States at a disadvantage by hurting our ability to compete on the world stage. Our global competitors have adopted standards that are less stringent than the EPA rule and are phased in over a much longer time frame,” a letter led by NAM says. “Congress must act to stop this harmful rule before it takes effect.”

Arizona job creators and legislative leaders weigh in

Last November, the Arizona şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř of Commerce & Industry and the Arizona Manufacturers Council were part of a NAM-led coalition that argued against the EPA’s proposed rulemaking. In a letter Danny Seiden, president & CEO of the Arizona şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř, remarked that wildfires a great deal of pollution to Arizona.

In a separate filing made in March, the Arizona şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř, state Senate President Warren Petersen, and House Speaker Ben Toma are contesting the EPA ruling. 

New standard will crimp growth

NAM insists the congressional leaders should consider the negative effects the ruling will have on businesses, arguing the more restrictive regulation will make it more challenging for states to issue permits for building new facilities or expanding existing factories.

NAM also argued that the ruling puts the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage globally since other nations are not lowering their standards at the same rate. The European Union is not lowering its standard to 10 micrograms until 2030, while China is retaining its 35 micrograms standard. 

“Americans deserve a strong economy and a healthy environment. We urge Congress to pass a resolution of disapproval addressing the EPA’s actions as quickly as possible,” the letter says.

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Fortescue, a global leader in green energy, recently announced the official launch of its first U.S. green hydrogen production facility, Arizona Hydrogen, in Buckeye, Arizona.

Fortescue Executive Chair and Founder Dr. Andrew Forrest AO, along with state, local, and tribal leaders, were on-site recently to celebrate the significant milestone, which included a soil turn ceremony and renaming of the facility.

In his remarks, Forrest commended the Biden administration’s efforts in promoting the energy transition but highlighted the need for supportive policies to accelerate progress in green energy initiatives.

“The U.S. has made serious strides in attracting global investment in green hydrogen and decarbonization projects, like Fortescue’s solar and wind-powered Arizona Hydrogen facility,” Forrest said. “Fortescue is unashamedly a first-mover in this space; the world needs us to move quickly.”

Potential speedbumps

But Forrest also expressed concerns about potential regulations that could hinder the industry’s growth and limit economic opportunities. He urged for policies that encourage rather than restrict progress in sustainable energy production.

“There are rules right now under consideration with the Biden Administration that would make already announced projects like this one dramatically more expensive and smaller, resulting in fewer economic opportunities and slower progress on decarbonization,” he said. “I support the Biden administration’s goal to produce hydrogen in a way that prioritizes sustainability, however 45V, in its current form, is a straitjacket on the industry and works against the Biden Administration’s own climate goals.” 

45V is a tax credit created in 2022 following the passage of the (IRA) that incentivizes the production of hydrogen by reducing the tax burden on eligible producers. 

Good news for jobs

According to economic projections from NDP Analytics, the Arizona Hydrogen facility is expected to create significant employment opportunities and economic benefits for the region. 

During its construction phase, the facility could generate up to 2,244 jobs, with potential earnings of $124.2 million in wages. It is anticipated to contribute $187.8 million to Arizona’s GDP and generate $31.7 million in income and sales taxes for state and local governments.

Once operational, Arizona Hydrogen will sustain 40 high-paying jobs directly, with a potential total of 431 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, contributing $29.3 million in wages. The facility is projected to add $59.2 million to Arizona’s GDP annually, along with $9.1 million in income and sales taxes for state and local governments.

Shrinking transportation’s carbon footprint

Arizona Hydrogen’s strategic focus on green hydrogen production aligns with efforts to decarbonize the heavy-duty transportation sector. The facility aims to produce up to 11,000 tons of liquid green hydrogen annually, making significant strides in reducing emissions in the mobility sector.

Governor Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community and Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential impact on sustainability and economic growth in Arizona.

“In recognizing and honoring the traditional lands of the Akimel O’otham and Pee Posh people, we have a profound connection and shared responsibility as stewards of the earth. Companies like Fortescue are helping to pave the way for a more sustainable and equitable future for our generations to come,” Lewis said.

“Buckeye is happy to welcome Arizona Hydrogen to the Sustainable Valley. Fortescue’s investment in our community helps Buckeye, and the entire state of Arizona, continue to grow efficiently and sustainably for generations to come,” Orsborn said.

Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, echoed these sentiments, highlighting Arizona Hydrogen’s role in strengthening Arizona’s position as a national leader in sustainability and clean energy technologies

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A new white from autonomous technology firm Aurora Innovation examines how the cutting edge innovation could reshape the trucking industry and positively affect energy efficiency. 

By using fuel sources more efficiently, autonomous technology could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. The paper looks at the factors influencing energy usage and delves into the specific opportunities and obstacles for autonomous trucking, and it introduces an integrated model for estimating the potential energy savings of a standard over-the-road tractor-trailer in the United States.

The potential benefits

• Autonomous trucks, exempt from hours-of-service regulations, diminish the need to drive at high speeds for quicker arrivals. Consequently, driving at lower speeds reduces fuel consumption per mile. Adopting Aurora’s strategy of maintaining a speed of 65 mph rather than 70-75 mph could potentially decrease highway fuel usage by 9%-17%.

• Trucks frequently use fuel while idling during driver breaks for rest, meals, or downtime between hauls, accounting for 4%-9% of fuel consumption. Although autonomous trucks cannot eradicate idling entirely, they could optimize driving time more effectively.

• A large amount of energy is expended due to ineffective acceleration and braking. Autonomous trucks have the capacity for eco-driving, which involves strategically optimizing acceleration, braking, and coasting to enhance energy efficiency and lower fuel consumption. Referencing a study highlighted in the white paper, it was discovered that implementing more strategic coasting could result in fuel savings of up to 9.5%.

• Autonomous trucks have the capability to operate almost continuously throughout the day, allowing them to transition more freight transportation to off-peak hours. This shift not only lowers the fuel consumption of autonomous trucks by reducing time spent in traffic but also aids in alleviating congestion and decreasing fuel usage for other vehicles.

Furthermore, the white paper also suggests that the adoption of autonomous trucks could pave the way for accelerated adoption of next-generation powertrains. 

“As autonomous trucks make hauling freight safer, we have a responsibility to make logistics more sustainable as well. Self-driving technology can fight climate change by increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions in the supply chain,” paper author Garrett Bray said.

The view from Arizona

Arizona has become a hub for the testing of autonomous passenger and heavy-duty vehicles, which the head of the Arizona Manufacturers Council said enhances the state’s competitive standing for advanced manufacturing.

“Arizona is a leader in the research, development, and manufacture of next generation automotives, whether they’re autonomous, electric, or alternative fuel,” AMC Executive Director Grace Appelbe said. “The innovations in the heavy-duty truck space are especially exciting because they not only attract new job-creating talent to Arizona, but they also are likely to have an immediate positive effect on our supply chain and logistics sector, which further enhances the state’s economic competitiveness.”

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A bipartisan coalition of Western state governors is seeking greater flexibility from the Biden administration in achieving the strict ozone standards in the Clean Air Act. 

In a letter from Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R), and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R), the governors cite “substantial regionally specific challenges” in meeting the law’s requirements, and say that they are “alarmed about the possible sanctioning of states that struggle to attain the standard.” 

The challenges 

The governors in their letter cite specific challenges borne by Western states in achieving the ozone standards:

• Elevated natural background ozone levels
• Biogenic contributors
•  Internationally transported pollution
•  Fast-growing populations
•  Wildfires

Mobile sources, which are under federal regulatory jurisdiction, thus limiting states’ regulatory authority. 

“Despite ongoing work by Western states to improve air quality, including through accelerating the adoption of low and non-emitting vehicle technology, improvements in the use of small off-road engines, and the implementation of innovative programs to control emissions from stationary sources, these regional challenges leave Western states with a narrow set of tools and a difficult path to meeting the requirements of the CAA and attaining the NAAQS.” 

NAAQS refers to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. 

Potential sanctions undermine stated goals 

Failure to meet the standards could result in a loss of federal highway dollars. 

Losing out on highway dollars would undermine the goals of the Clean Air Act by halting projects that could reduce emissions and would undermine the goals of the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law to modernize highway infrastructure to reduce congestion, which contributes to emissions. 

Potential solutions 

Among several potential solutions offered in their letter, the governors proposed: 

• Greater cooperation between the EPA and Western states to identify how the Exceptional Events framework can reflect increased wildfire activity, “and provide more consideration for the emissions benefits of wildfire mitigation strategies in reducing air pollution in the West and nationally”; and
• Cooperation between the federal government and states to achieve a better process for the approval of projects with air quality benefits. 

Business community: Jobs at stake 

The National Association of Manufacturers last year said proposed EPA revisions to the NAAQs

would put at risk more than 300,000 manufacturing jobs nationally and would put more than a half-million jobs in a nonattainment zone by 2027. 

Last year, Danny Seiden, the president and CEO of the Arizona şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř of Commerce & Industry, said before a joint legislative committee on air quality that the challenge of pollution originating in other states and countries was particularly vexing. 

“We are being punished for what other states and other countries are doing,” he said. 

More Seiden: Stringent air quality rule will hurt our economic recovery and growth

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şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř sat down recently with Benji Backer, the founder of the American Conservation Coalition and the author of The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future, which was released Apr. 16. Part 1 of the interview is here. Part 2 follows.

şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř: You’re the author of a new book, The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future. What’s your book about? 

Benji Backer: I’ve spent the last seven years traveling to hundreds of communities, rural and urban, to find solutions to environmental challenges and see the realities and complexities firsthand. This book is a culmination of all those experiences and partnerships with amazing organizations and people to basically build out this alternative path on environmental action. 

The book details why this issue became so divided, and how that’s unnecessary, but most importantly it talks about what sort of solutions people could agree on and what short term wins we can ally on to protect our environment. 

Those things include things that aren’t that sexy or exciting compared to what has been proposed in headlines like “drill, baby drill,” or banning fossil fuels. But there are a ton of common-sense solutions that are outlined in the book that we could pursue right now, while also leaning on entrepreneurship, innovation, the growth of technology, and ingenuity in this country and across the world to solve the remainder of the challenge. 

It basically charts that alternative approach. And it calls on our leaders to do that, too. 

CBN: Are there some small wins to be had? 

Bracker: We cannot solve environmental challenges without incrementalism. This is a walk, then jog, then run, approach. Overhauling people’s lives will never be a sustainable way forward because people will never adopt that. People will always push back.  

We need to create solutions that work for people and the planet. We need to be lowering costs and increasing efficiency. We need to make people’s lives better with the solutions, otherwise it will never be adopted here or anywhere else around the world.  

So, that means incrementalism and getting some wins under our belt, getting the momentum in the right direction. And thankfully, we already have. The United States is leading the world in reducing carbon emissions. We have not done enough, but we are moving in the right direction,

CBN: Chapter 2 is titled, “Streamlining the Complicated Role of Government in the New Green Economy.” Tell us about your argument there. 

Backer: Contrary to popular belief, the government has actually stood in the way of clean energy development and pro-environmental projects. It takes 10 years for an offshore wind developer or a geothermal company to get approved. You have forest owners who cannot manage their forests because of government regulation that results in massive wildfires. 

I’m not saying that we should just take a hands-off, laissez faire approach to solve environmental challenges. But the government can also overstep its bounds and stand in the way of progress. And that’s what’s happening right now in a lot of ways. 

Even though it might not sound pro-environment to loosen regulations and allow people to manage forests and get energy projects deployed faster when they don’t have to go through as lengthy of an approval process, it actually will end up helping us. And you can see that as proof from other countries that are doing this way better than we are. You look at Europe and their ability to manage forests and deploy nuclear and other clean energy sources fast. 

Benji Backer, Founder and Executive Chairman, American Conservation Coalition

CBN: To what extent should a regulation’s effect on business be considered before being adopted? 

Backer: First, we have to turn this issue on its head; we should be relying on the private sector as the first place that we go for solutions, then we should be looking at the local government, then the state government, and then the federal government.  

Let’s say the government is an important part of an environmental solution in the energy space. It should be equipping and incentivizing the right behavior, not prohibiting, and regulating and mandating. 

When you put chokeholds on the economy, and you don’t push people in the right direction, you get bad results. 

I see the role of the government as supporting the right moves to create the marketplace for sustainable business, not to prevent against unsustainable business. We should be equipping companies to do the right thing rather than prohibiting them from doing the wrong thing.

CBN: On the topic of energy, coal is being phased out. Can natural gas and nuclear energy be part of a clean energy future? 

Backer: We can’t have a clean energy future without nuclear and natural gas. We need base load, 24/7 power, and we have to have reliable energy that doesn’t just work when the sun shines and the wind blows.  

There are a lot of parts of this country that aren’t sunny, and there are a lot of parts of this country that aren’t windy, and every part of this country that has a nighttime and doesn’t have wind or sun, so we need to be realistic about what energy sources we’re providing.  

We also have an obligation to middle and lower-class people to provide them with energy that is cost effective. Nuclear and natural gas do that in a way that also is pro-environment. 

If you replace coal with natural gas, you reduce emissions significantly worldwide. Again, that’s why the United States has reduced emissions.

People will use the energy sources that are the lowest cost option, and right now natural gas is a clean way to do that, a reliable way to do that. 

CBN: What are the opponents of nuclear and natural gas missing? 

Backer: Unfortunately, they’re missing reality. I think there’s a lot of ignorance and a lot of misinformation out there and oversimplification. 

To be anti-natural gas or nuclear is ignorant at best, and destructive — intentionally destructive at worst. 

I think it boils down for most well-intentioned people to ignorance, but also this kind of idea of NIMBYism. Not-in-my-backyardism. People don’t want even wind turbines or solar panels, but especially natural gas plants, or mining for uranium, or nuclear plants themselves in their backyards.  

But again, that demand is going to be met somewhere. So, if it’s not near you, it’s near someone else. And if it’s not near someone else, then it’s probably overseas where countries like China don’t care about their impact on the environment.  

CBN: There is a vocal counter argument to what you’re saying, which is that renewables are ready today to replace these sources. You seem skeptical of that. 

Backer: I wish renewables were ready today. I’m skeptical that they will ever be at the scale that people want them to be, but they’re not ready. They are not ready for mass adoption and to replace our energy portfolio. And people who are saying that renewables are ready to replace all other energy sources are flat out wrong and they’re either lying or they don’t know the realities.

Again, I wish that wasn’t the case. I don’t want it to come across to people that I am anti-renewables. There’s a reality here that is being missed by so many, and we, I think, forget as a country, how reliant we are on energy to survive. Intermittent, sparsely resourced energy sources are not the way forward. It would turn America backwards and harm our most vulnerable people. 

I hate when people use that as an argument to say that we don’t need renewables, because that’s not true, either. They have an important place at the table. But I also hate it when people say that that’s all we need, because that’s not true, and that’s even more damaging to society than saying that we don’t need them at all. 

CBN: Can we be good stewards of the land and still engage in industries like mining, drilling, and hydraulic fracturing? 

Backer: If humans didn’t exist on the earth with the population we have, then we wouldn’t have to have these tough conversations about tradeoffs.  

But I believe in humanity, and I believe in our ability to make this world a better place, and I believe our population can do a lot of good. And so, if we have the population we do, we will have demand for resources that constantly means we’re taking from the environment.  

We have to mine, no matter if that’s for uranium, for nuclear fuel, or lithium for EV batteries, or cobalt for solar panels, wind turbines, every single energy source product. 

Not all mining and drilling and taking from the environment is the same. We should have high standards. We should prioritize protecting the places that we’re not taking from. And we should be creating technologies to figure out how to take the least from the environment possible. 

CBN: When we think about policy in the environmental policy space, we often are dealing with the executive branch rulemaking regulations. Do you have an opinion on whether you’d like to see these issues be discussed in Congress or in the White House? 

Backer: I think the role of Congress is to find a bipartisan common ground on these issues. But the problem with relying on the federal government is that you allow it to be a political football. If it’s partisan, it’s inherently at risk of being undone. And I think Congress and the White House have an obligation. I don’t think President Biden has done a good job of this at all. And I don’t think President Trump did a good job of this at all, of working with the other side, to come up with solutions. 

CBN: When will we know whether your organization has achieved its goals? 

Backer: The moment that our organization, this book, this entire movement, has achieved its goals is the day that we return to cross partisan collaboration on the environment again.  

I believe nature is nonpartisan, and until our elected leaders understand that too, our movement has not worked. But once they do, we’ve done our job, and it’s time to move forward on the solutions. But until Americans demand that they work together on this, they won’t. 

That’s why I’m calling on all people, regardless of political ideology, to stand together and fight for these principles because we need it. We are in desperate need of a new environmental movement, and that new environmental movement will be successful when we’re seeing it in policy and when the environment is no longer part of our culture wars.

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şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř sat down recently with Benji Backer, the founder of the American Conservation Coalition and the author of The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future, which will be released Apr. 16.

Here’s part 1 of our conversation. Portions have been edited for clarity.

şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř: What is the American Conservation Coalition?

Benji Backer: The American Conservation Coalition is an organization I started when I was at college at the University of Washington. The last 16 years I have been active in politics. My other passion is being in the outdoors, which led me to move to Arizona. I fell in love with the outdoors here. To me, when I’m in nature, the environment itself doesn’t seem political or partisan. and I became super frustrated that the narrative in environmental politics has been and was at the time basically like this Green New Deal alarmist, “the world’s gonna end”, or we need huge government action to overhaul the economy, or we should be doing nothing – that there’s no problem at all.

So, the American Conservation Coalition and this book aim to fill that gap by creating a grassroots community of young people like me – 40,000 of us now over 200 communities – in chapters that are pushing elected officials, business leaders, and decision makers to prioritize the environment in a way that is good for humanity, good for our economy, good for our individual lives, and allowing us to have individual liberty and prosperity at the same time. It’s basically creating an alternative environmental movement.

CBN: Do you anticipate the Coalition making its voice heard in the presidential election?

Backer: We feel like the presidential election this year and previous years has been an encapsulation of part of the problem, which is that the narrative is still kind of this doom and gloom. “We need drastic action,” versus “these issues don’t matter.” 

We feel like, regardless of who wins, we need to make progress, and we need to do it in a common sense, realistic way. So, we’re not going to be weighing in on endorsing a candidate in the 2024 election.

We will be endorsing some congressional candidates – ones that have prioritized the environment and prioritized this kind of common sense, pro-economy approach. But at the presidential level, we just feel like it’s another election where, unfortunately, even though most Americans don’t believe the denial versus alarmist narrative, that’s unfortunately the narrative that we’re kind of having to buy into by choosing a candidate. So we’re just setting our sights on what we can accomplish after the election at the state and federal levels.

Benji Backer, Founder and Executive Chairman, American Conservation Coalition

CBN: Why do you believe conservatism, properly understood, goes hand in hand with conservation?

Backer: The conservatives used to lead environmental progress. You look back at Teddy Roosevelt, to Richard Nixon, to Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush, those four presidents, all Republicans, led the most historic environmental initiatives of all time. The Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, creation of the EPA, creation of the National Park system as we know it, the largest marine sanctuary and public lands protections of all time. Those are all under those presidents.

Conservatism used to have conservation as a core pillar of its value system. But most importantly, there’s a reason for that. And the reason is, conservatives who tend to  be freedom loving Americans who appreciate the beauty of our country, love to recreate in nature. They’re often the hunters and fishermen and women. They’re the ranchers and the farmers. They’re the hikers and skiers and people who just love spending time outdoors. Of course they want to protect [the environment]. And, you know, conservatives tend to be more often than not located in rural areas, which are nestled in nature itself.

When you think about Arizona, or you think about any of the states in the West, the most conservative parts are parts in nature, and they have a personal stake in protecting the environment. So, what my message is, is that this issue used to be one that conservatives led on and it can be again. It’s an authentically conservative position, but it’s authentically a nonpartisan position as well. To me nature is nonpartisan – to me the environment is something that we all share.

CBN: Can the views and agenda of the American Conservation Coalition and those expressed in your book still have a home in today’s version of conservatism, which tends to be defined by the views and attitudes of the former president and his supporters?

Backer: I think the conservative movement has absolutely lost its way on these issues. This is a new problem, and it’s one that is so avoidable and unnecessary. 

The reason why Trump supporters and conservatives are so skeptical of environmental action is because they perceive that the only solutions are ones that are going to hurt them and take control of their lives. And what I’m trying to tell conservative leaders and voters is that that’s not the case. Just because you don’t like the other side’s ideas doesn’t mean that you can’t propose good ideas of your own. You should be playing offense and proposing good ideas.

I don’t think that it’s too late to turn the tide by any means, but I do think that it’s harmful when the president talks about the environment as basically a consumer good, and that we can just kind of tap into it as much as we want and that there aren’t any repercussions. I think he’s very misguided in that, and I think if he wants to show young people that he actually cares about them and this country, he changes his tune. 

This issue is going to be important past the time that Trump is relevant. This is going to be something that we have to fight for for decades, and my generation’s right and left isn’t going to tolerate environmental inaction.

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SRP has provided water and power to the Valley for more than 100 years, and that experience continues to serve our customers well.

SRP and our 5,000 employees have long been recognized as one of the top utilities in the nation and we are at the forefront of driving extraordinary changes to the power grid, our watershed and the greater Phoenix community while always doing right by our customers.

This means ensuring reliable, affordable and sustainable power and water now and for generations to come.

Reliability and Affordability 

As a not-for-profit, community-based utility, SRP has among the lowest electricity rates in the southwestern United States and the lowest rates of any major utility in the state. This can be attributed to careful planning by the company and our publicly elected Board of Directors, and our customers have made it clear that we must continue to prioritize affordability and reliability even as we substantially grow our electric system.

SRP has among the best reliability rankings in the nation, and we continue to invest in equipment and technology to improve our grid.

David Rousseau, president of the SRP board of directors

Responsible Decarbonization 

SRP is taking significant, industry-leading steps to decarbonize the power it generates for one of the fastest-growing service territories in the country. In the last year alone, we’ve doubled the amount of utility-scale solar energy on the grid and are proud of the fact that our customers are benefiting from enough clean energy to power nearly 500,000 homes. Five additional solar facilities are currently under development. When they are operational by the end of 2027, nearly half of our generation will be carbon free.

And we aren’t close to being done. Our Board recently approved more ambitious sustainability goals including net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. To help reach this goal and meet the projected 56% increase in energy needed to serve our customers over the next 10 years while also retiring most of our coal generation, SRP will double the size of our current electrical system. We’ll do this by adding new carbon-free generation and new storage resources by 2035.

To maintain a balanced, low-cost grid and to meet the unique challenges of our Valley, new fast-ramping natural gas units will also be part of SRP’s future generation mix. This technology allows SRP to meet our customers’ energy needs and better integrate intermittent renewables, which are critical to maintaining our industry-leading reliability that helps keep our customers safe, especially during Arizona’s hot summer days (and nights).

SRP will also continue to support our growing number of customers who choose to add rooftop solar and batteries to their homes. We offer a variety of ways to help evaluate potential projects and avoid scams, including a rooftop solar calculator and a list of preferred solar installers.

Jim Pratt, SRP general manager and CEO.

Water Resiliency 

SRP was created when a group of Phoenix-area landowners pledged their land as collateral for a federal loan to build Theodore Roosevelt Dam, establishing a regular flow of water to the Valley and ensuring our long-term growth.

SRP now supplies water to almost half of the Phoenix region. Even though our water comes from a watershed that is expected to be less impacted by climate change than the Colorado River, we continue to collaborate with state agencies, cities and tribes to develop programs and infrastructure that will help maximize the Valley’s future water supply.

These include increasing storage capacity on the Verde River and the SRP Central Arizona Project Canal Interconnection, allowing water to be moved to communities that need it. We are also seeking approval to extend the amount of time SRP can hold water in a portion of the Flood Control Space at Roosevelt Dam to put more of it to use, particularly during times of heavy precipitation like we experienced last winter.

SRP and our partners will continue to plan for future growth and variable climate conditions to help ensure reliable and well-managed surface water and groundwater supplies.

While we’ve experienced incredible change over the last 100 years, one thing has remained constant: We are driven to always make decisions in the best interests of our customers and the communities we serve. This commitment is ongoing and will become even more important to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable power and water as we address critical challenges facing our company and our state.

David Rousseau is president of the SRP board of directors. Jim Pratt is SRP general manager and CEO.

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Hydrogen energy producers are sounding the alarm after the federal government released new guidance on the implementation of the 45V tax credit. The credit, created in 2022 following the passage of the (IRA), incentivizes the production of hydrogen by reducing the tax burden on eligible producers. 

The credit was crafted and signed into law with the express intent of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting American industry through the scaling up of domestic hydrogen production. Producers warn, however, that its implementation could very well be derailed by counterproductive rulemaking. 

Earlier this year, the U.S. Treasury and the IRS released draft guidance on how the credit will be administered and which producers will be eligible to utilize it. The guidance stretches beyond the letter of the law, excluding large components of the hydrogen production community from benefiting from 45V. By establishing “three pillars” — deliverability, temporal matching, and incrementality requirements — the new rules would preclude certain producers from receiving the credit.

“The 45V credit is technology neutral and accessible to project sponsors regardless of their particular hydrogen production pathway as long as they meet certain carbon emissivity requirements,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., ranking member of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, , “However, the requirements of the IRS guidance preclude certain means of hydrogen production from qualifying for the credit.”

One major source of hydrogen precluded from receiving the credit under these new rules is “blue” hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas and paired with carbon capture technology. Hydrogen hubs, established by a $7 billion investment from the , rely on this production pathway.

The dispute is part of a broader trend. Since taking office, the Biden administration has prioritized a transition to clean energy production, with a focus on domestic production. Some of its policies — such as the IRA and the — have been seemingly conducive to that end. But when it comes down to implementation, the administration has instituted new regulatory barriers, often erecting and supporting policies which undermine its economic development goals.

Excessive labor regulations have contributed to in the construction of chip manufacturing facilities, onerous federal permitting laws have new mining operations, and now, new guidance threatens to dampen the impact of 45V.

Here, argue hydrogen production proponents, Biden has a chance to actualize his commitment to producing more clean domestic energy. 

Time will tell if his administration chooses to reverse course and amend its guidance.

Joe Pitts is a native Arizonan currently working in the public policy space. He formerly served as program director at the Arizona şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Foundation.

Photo Matti Blume

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This column originally appeared in the .

Voters in Salt River Project’s service territory will play a significant role in determining the future of a large portion of Arizona’s energy and water policies when they cast their ballots on April 2. They should choose wisely. Their votes will determine whether SRP maintains its steady, environmentally and economically responsible trajectory, or whether it adopts a dramatic and expensive change of course. 

Opponents of the current SRP board and council occupy an extreme wing of the environmental movement. They’re calling for reforms so sweeping that they’ll cause customers’ power bills to spike to untenable levels. 

SRP’s contribution to the state’s economic success is too important to pursue change motivated by a rigid ideological agenda. Some changes might be beneficial, but voters and SRP’s elected leaders should prioritize stability, reliability, and the interests of all stakeholders, including businesses and homeowners.

Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř of Commerce & Industry

Salt River Project plays a vital role as the nation’s largest public power company, supplying electricity and water to a significant portion of Arizona. Its governance should strike a balance between innovation and proven strategies that ensure affordable and reliable services for its commercial and residential customers.

SRP has smartly integrated renewable energy sources into its system. Critics say it’s been too slow. But the transition to clean energy must be managed responsibly to avoid disruptions and new costs that would be borne by ratepayers. We can embrace renewable energy while safeguarding the affordability and reliability of our energy supply.

Water management is another critical aspect of SRP’s responsibilities. With Arizona facing water challenges, including drought conditions, SRP’s role as a major water supplier underscores the need for informed and strategic decision-making. Collaborative efforts between SRP, stakeholders, and policymakers are essential to ensuring sustainable water practices that support economic growth and environmental stewardship.

As for SRP’s governance, the current structure has served the community well for decades. While improvements can always be considered, any changes should be carefully evaluated to uphold fairness, representation, and accountability.

Neil Giuliano, president and CEO of Greater Phoenix Leadership.

To ensure a vibrant and prosperous future for Arizona, SRP voters should support candidates who understand the complexities of energy and water management, prioritize economic growth, and promote policies that benefit businesses and residents alike.

If you’re in SRP’s territory, exercise your . You’ll help determine the direction of SRP’s policies and initiatives and the state’s economic development prospects. 

The next generation of SRP leaders should commit to build a sustainable, resilient, and business-friendly energy and water infrastructure for generations to come.

SRP has served Arizona since before statehood, setting the standard for public utilities nationwide. It’s a reputation worth preserving. 

Danny Seiden is president and CEO of the Arizona şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř of Commerce & Industry; Neil Giuliano is president and CEO of Greater Phoenix Leadership.

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The Arizona şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř of Commerce & Industry joined state Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma in filing a petition Monday in the United States Court of Appeals to contest the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent regulation regarding fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. 

Their argument asserts that the regulation “exceeds the agency’s statutory authority and otherwise is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and not in accordance with law.”

In November of 2023, the şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř and the Arizona Manufacturers Council and the National Association of Manufacturers challenged the EPA’s proposed rulemaking.

Earlier this month, the National Association of Manufacturer’s Legal Center sued to block the EPA’s rule that lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to 9 micrograms per cubic meter.

The NAM has advocated for retaining the current standards. Lowering the standard to 9 micrograms per cubic meter is far ahead of other countries, the European Union plans to reduce its standard to 10 by 2030, the United Kingdom plans to reduce its standard to 10 by 2040. 

The new, more aggressive U.S. standard will cause numerous issues for manufacturers, crippling production. 

According to the , the regulation is projected to endanger activity valued between $162.4 billion and $197.4 billion, potentially putting at risk 852,100 to 973,900 existing jobs.

 â€śArizona’s businesses understand the importance of environmental stewardship, but the EPA’s new standard on fine particulate matter disregards the collaborative spirit of environmental regulation,” şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř President and CEO Danny Seiden said. “By imposing unrealistic mandates, the federal government is hindering our ability to address local challenges effectively.

“Arizona needs solutions that consider our unique circumstances and promote sustainable economic growth without unnecessary regulatory burdens. The EPA’s one-size-fits-all approach will have real consequences for industries across our state and will jeopardize future job creation. But aside from the economic implications, EPA’s action exceeds its statutory authority and threatens the balance of cooperative federalism essential for effective environmental governance.

“We are grateful to President Petersen and Speaker Toma for standing with the şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř and with Arizona job creators, and we encourage the Court to overturn this harmful and unlawful rule.”

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