APS commits to 100% clean energy by 2050
Our clean energy announcement in January marked a historic milestone in the 134-year history of APS, Arizona’s largest electricity provider. The plan includes a goal to deliver 100 percent clean, carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050.
The company has been on a trajectory of increasingly clean energy through solar power innovation, major investments in energy storage technology, carbon-free nuclear operations and advances in energy efficiency solutions.
Now, the company’s destination for that path is set as the boldest clean-energy goal of all Arizona electric companies, as well as one of the most ambitious in the country.
The goal includes a nearer-term 2030 target of achieving a resource mix that is 65% clean energy, with 45% of our portfolio coming from renewable energy. Today, we already serve our customers with one of the largest solar portfolios in the nation, which includes more than 1.3 gigawatts of solar capacity. Our 35-megawatt Foothills Solar Plant near Yuma is one of the company’s 10 grid-scale solar plants in the state.
We are setting the course for a sustainable energy future that brings together cleaner energy resources including solar, advanced technology, choice, reliability and affordability for all customers.
PATHWAYS TO 100% CLEAN
On the journey to a carbon-free future, APS plans to ensure reliability and affordability through intelligent investments in renewable resources and developing technologies, nuclear power produced at Palo Verde Generating Station and energy efficiency and other programs for customers.
Achieving this 100 percent clean goal while maintaining reliability of service at affordable rates for customers also will rely on:
Existing power sources in the near term, including some natural gas, as APS makes a sensible transition to clean generating resources. In time, APS expects technological advances to eliminate the need to supplement renewable energy with even lowemitting carbon resources like natural gas in order to maintain reliable service around the clock at reasonable prices.
Continued modernization of the electric grid as APS builds an advanced infrastructure that is more responsive and resilient, supports more renewables, minimizes outages and provides customers more choice and control over their energy decisions.
Energy storage solutions to increase the effectiveness of renewable resources and provide more clean energy to customers after the sun has set. These will include APS’s previously announced plans for an 850-megawatt expansion of large-scale energy storage, mostly paired with the company’s innovative solar farms.
Policy decisions that leverage market-based technology and innovation and keep Arizona and its utility industry an attractive place to invest.
Electrification of the state’s different economic sectors, particularly the transportation sector and specific building applications. In addition to supporting affordability for utility customers, electrification will drive a cleaner environment and more energy-efficient operations throughout the economy.
Evolving regional and market-based solutions such as participation in the Western Energy Imbalance Market, which is saving customers tens of millions of dollars each year.
Collaboration with stakeholders and regulators will be key to the plan’s ultimate success, with full transparency regarding APS’s roadmap and progress through Arizona’s established process of Integrated Resource Plans. Flexibility, reliability and affordability will remain fundamental planning principles that will guide the addition of carbon-free resources at a reasonable cost and on pace and scale with customers’ growing and changing energy needs.
Yuma-based Regina Twomey is the community affairs manager at APS.
DETROIT — The Hummer, once a gas-guzzling target for environmentalists, is making a comeback. But this time around it won’t burn fuel or spew greenhouse gases.
General Motors announced Thursday that it will start selling a batterypowered Hummer pickup truck in September of 2021. At least part of the new Hummer will be shown in a 30-second television ad featuring basketball star LeBron James during the second quarter of Sunday’s Super Bowl.
GM gave only a few details about the truck, which will be unveiled officially on May 20. It will have a huge battery to generate the equivalent of 1,000 horsepower, and will be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds. The Hummer also will produce 11,500 foot pounds of torque, a measure of rotational force that indicates a high towing capacity.
The truck will be sold under the GMC brand as the Hummer EV. The new version will have design elements similar to the old one, but will not look like the Hummer of the past, said GM spokeswoman Michelle Malcho.