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Jan 2020
57m 32s

Arizona Public Service’s Historic Shift

Wood Mackenzie
About this episode

This week: The largest utility in one of the West’s reddest states will go carbon-free by 2050. 

The power company that has poured tens of millions of dollars into electing friendly regulators and fighting renewable energy says it’s all in for zero carbon electricity — even if the exact pathway isn’t yet clear. 

Wasn’t APS investing heavily in keeping the Four Corners coal plant open longer? What happened? And how will this impact the way the utility starts planning its resource mix today? 

Then, Congressional Republicans say they’re getting serious about climate. They’ve got a new messaging bill. We’ll talk about what’s in it — or what’s not in it — and ask why they’re tackling the issue now?

Plus, plug-in hybrids versus electric cars. Honda’s CEO says he thinks plug-in hybrids will dominate for a long time. What will the electric mobility transition look like? Will we jump straight to EVs, or will hybrids be a viable interim step for some automakers? 

Resources:

  • Greentech Media: Arizona Public Service Carbon Free Power 2050
  • AZ Central: APS CEO says Company Won’t Spend on Political Campaigns 
  • Politico: House Republicans Caught Between Trump and Young Voters on CC
  • Axios: Elements of the GOP Plan
  • Inside EVs: What’s Better, A Plug-in Hybrid or a Fully Electric
  • ExtremeTech: Did Honda’s CEO Say BEVs Make No Sense? Not Exactly

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