Arizona is a hotbed for clean energy innovation. Arizona’s entrepreneurial business climate, coupled with the high quality of life and relatively low cost of living, has drawn both highly skilled workers and the innovative companies who need them. From electric vehicle companies to microchip manufacturers to large businesses with robust clean energy and sustainability goals, more and more companies now call Arizona home. According to the Arizona Commerce Authority, between 2015 and 2020 at least 634 companies have relocated or expanded in Arizona. Among them are electric vehicle manufacturers Lucid Motors, Nikola Motor Company, ElectraMeccanica, and Atlis Motor Vehicles, who together are changing the future of the motor vehicle industry. And, amid a global semiconductor shortage, Arizona will now be home to three major semiconductor factories, including major expansions by Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
In addition, just this month Microsoft launched a long-awaited data center region in Arizona, made up of three separate facilities just outside Phoenix. The company said it chose Arizona for its facility because of its “abundant solar energy, highly skilled workforce, proximity to our customers, and availability of land.” In order to meet its corporate sustainability goals, Microsoft’s new facilities will use a combination of solar power, renewable energy certificates to offset energy use, and adiabatic cooling, which uses outside air instead of water cooling when temperatures are below 85 degrees. In particular, the facilities will be using solar panels from Arizona company First Solar, which uses an innovative process for solar panel manufacturing that is more energy efficient, uses less water, and creates panels that are designed to be recycled. Microsoft will also be participating in water conservation efforts to balance its current and future water use.
These are but a few examples of how Arizona’s entrepreneurial business climate has attracted companies focused on clean energy innovation, with positive impacts for Arizona’s economy, workforce, and environment. With this kind of momentum and commitment from Arizona’s leaders at all levels, Arizona’s drive to lead the innovation economy is sure to continue.