As of mid-2023, Arizona still lacks significant binding clean energy goals or transportation decarbonization measures. Western Resource Advocates (WRA) commissioned GridLab and Evolved Energy Research for a joint study to investigate the impacts of transportation electrification in Arizona with a particular focus on the relative costs of different decarbonization strategies in Arizona’s transportation sector. This study analyzes various pathways to decarbonizing Arizona’s economy by 2050 to meet emission reduction goals set out by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), with a particular focus on the relative costs of different decarbonization strategies in Arizona’s transportation sector.
In this electricity sector brief, we also recommend policies that utilities and state and local decision makers can develop to help Arizona realize the economic and climate benefits that our study results outline. This brief focuses on two scenarios: 2040 Clean Energy Standard (CES) and 2040 CES + Clean Gas. The former assumes the power sector achieves a clean energy standard of 100% carbon-free retail sales in the state by 2040 and allows for synthetic fuels to be created in Arizona and shipped to other states, in part due to Arizona’s strong, inexpensive solar resources. The 2040 CES + Clean Gas scenario is similar but restricts pipeline gas to only clean alternatives.
Both scenarios demonstrate the ability for Arizona to achieve ambitious, clean transportation targets while simultaneously pursuing a rapid decarbonization of the electric power sector. Regardless of which path Arizona takes, the long-term emissions reductions targets require a substantial investment in clean energy resources. The rapid adoption of electric vehicles and other highly-efficient electric end-uses makes this transition far easier.
