As Arizona’s population continues to grow and as manufacturers, such as the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, continue to move to Arizona, energy demand will continue to rise.
Arizona has long been recognized as the most reliable electric provider in the country. However, even Arizona has seen warning signs that threaten our reliability. To maintain our power grid’s reliability and affordability, we must increase investment in reliable baseload generation, renewables, hydrogen, and new technologies. We must also invest in the pipelines and power lines needed to deliver that energy from where it is produced to where it is consumed.
Arizona also has the benefit of learning from the grave mistakes our neighbor, California, has made in its rush to use only green energy sources. Arizona’s realistic approach focused on reliability, affordability, and innovation will allow the state to attract more businesses and manufacturing while preventing rolling blackouts. Keeping the lights on should not take a back seat to unrealistic Green New Deal aspirations.
The safest, most realistic, and most affordable way to support clean energy is through pipeline infrastructure. Clean natural gas, hydrogen, and captured carbon dioxide will all require a network of pipelines to move the product from where it is manufactured to other locations around the country.