Councilman Michael Nowakowski
Phoenix Republic/Northeast Phoenix Republic
My Turn
Arizona must act now on solar energy
For years, we have talked about how ripe solar energy was in Arizona – more than 300 days a year of solar panel packing Arizona sunshine. This power is enough sunlight to satisfy our state’s energy needs 100 fold. In other words, the statewide solar equivalent of Jed Clampett’s back yard. While it's clear that Arizona is in a great position to become a leader in renewable energy, the opportunity to take advantage of this fact is now better than ever.
With an economy that is struggling to pull itself from a recession and starving for new jobs, Arizona’s unemployment rate is still hanging around 8 percent. A good portion of these lost jobs lie in construction sector. By investing $2.8 billion in clean energy, we could see more than 29,000 new jobs in Arizona, according to a study by the Center for American Progress. A study prepared for the U.S. Conference of Mayors shows that if the clean energy industry in Maricopa County continues to grow, it could create at least 30,000 new jobs in the county over the next 30 years.
Already, companies like Abengoa Solar are ahead of the curve and creating new clean energy jobs. Abengoa’s construction of the Solana solar plant outside of Phoenix is creating 1,500 jobs. Once completed in 2011, Solana will produce enough electricity to power 70,000 homes in Arizona.
The benefits to Arizona just start there. By developing a clean energy economy, we are not only creating new jobs, we are investing in our energy future. The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that Arizona households will see $880 a year by 2030 in savings from comprehensive climate and energy policy. With the development of a unified national smart grid – new infrastructure for moving electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed – comes the opportunity to start pumping Arizona’s surplus energy across the rest of the country, bringing huge economic benefits back home.
The opportunities are vast and the time to act is now. Clean energy policies should be considered by our leaders at all levels. At the national level, comprehensive energy reform holds huge promise for our solar-resource-rich state. We have a unique opportunity to show the rest of the world that we’re ready to lead the way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
But while our leaders consider these solutions, they need to know that residents are serious about the need to take bold action on climate change – now. While our opponents’ voices are loud, we must be louder. The failure to act now, preserving the status quo, does nothing to move Arizona or America’s economy forward again. Comprehensive, clean energy policies will put America back to work and start us down the path toward recovery. We can’t wait, and neither can our economy.
So, while we can definitely feel the solar potential every time we set foot under the Arizona sun, the chance is now for a new clean energy economy that translates this great opportunity into new clean energy jobs and long-term economic prosperity for Arizona.
Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski represents District 7. He can be reached at 602-262-7492 or at council.district.7@phoenix.gov.
This column appeared in the July 24, 2009 edition of the Northeast Phoenix Republic and Phoenix Republic.