A shift in the regulatory environment at the Arizona Corporation Commission, utilities lagging in the reductions required by climate science, and load growth from economic development provide both challenges and opportunities for the energy transition in the state.
While it may not have always been headline news in Colorado, the environment came out as a major winner this session thanks in part to WRA’s staff who testified, drafted bill language, and engaged legislators and allies; the collective advocacy of our experts; and strategic collaboration through partnerships across the political spectrum.
One of the best-kept secrets about electric vehicles is that, unlike traditional vehicles, the battery that powers the vehicle can have a “second life” after the vehicle itself is retired. It can be reused, repurposed, and, ultimately, the critical minerals contained in the battery can be recycled to make new ones.
As a fast-growing, energy-producing state, Colorado has less time than other Western states to conserve wildlife and outdoor access. While the West loses a little over an acre of wildlife habitat and open space every few minutes, Colorado can chart a path as a leader among Western states in keeping the West’s great outdoors and wildlife habitats intact and healthy.
In 2024, WRA’s “Bright Climate Future” campaign is shining a light on climate solutions and planting the seeds for a better tomorrow. Throughout the year, we’ll provide resources to help organizations and citizens take advantage of key civic opportunities.
As legislative sessions are in full swing across our region, WRA is working to ensure that our proposed climate solutions are passed, enacted, and have a lasting impact on our communities. Our subject matter experts are hard at work drafting and advocating for policies that will create a sustainable and thriving West. Read more to learn about our key legislative priorities in each state this year.
Here at WRA, we’re focused on the sectors that are responsible for most of the harmful greenhouse gases spewed into the air every day, and that includes fossil-fuel powered plants. In this blog, we’ll zero in on our work with electric utilities, and why we’re pushing the major utilities in our region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2030.
At its core, outdoor equity embodies the belief that everyone should have access to clean water and air, parks and open spaces, particularly those historically represented and underserved by the outdoor industry. This means that every person should have the ability to experience the great regardless of income, location, race, or age.
WRA is working to improve Arizona utility SRP’s sustainability goals so that they’re aligned with current climate science and goals. One aspect of these improvements is switching from intensity-based goals to mass-based goals. Read more below to learn what that means.
WRA advocates for a smart energy siting approach that not only looks at the climate benefits of new clean energy projects but also accounts for the carbon impacts of land use change, ensures that conservation values are incorporated in the location and design of a project, and directly benefits host communities.
The patchwork of the Western grid also affects our transition to clean energy and away from fossil fuels. The sun is usually shining and the wind blowing somewhere in the West, even if not locally. But because of the inefficiencies in the Western grid, it can be hard to move the electricity we generate from clean, renewable sources to the places it’s needed.
