Last year, the Arizona Legislature made an historic investment in solving our water crisis. It committed $1.2 billion to a newly recreated Water Infrastructure Finance Authority for water importation and conservation. This investment in water infrastructure, conservation and management is critically needed for the future of Arizona and is long past due.
People are also reading… Right before the holidays, the Board hastily approved an agreement to explore dedicating $750 million to the purchase of water from a proposed multi-billion dollar desalination plant in Puerto Penasco, Mexico to be built by IDE Technologies, an Israeli desalination company, in partnership with Goldman Sachs.
Believe me, I understand the urgency of addressing our water crisis and support immediate action. Water has been a top priority for me as a community member and as an Arizona legislator. I have long called for Arizona to get serious about conserving our most precious resource and investing in our water security. But we must do this smartly.
WIFA’s newly appointed executive director recently assured legislators that the Board will not let its agreement with IDE stand in the way of considering competing water proposals. This is a good sign. WIFA should look to invest first in the most cost-effective way of securing additional water, which is conservation.