Arizona Public Service (APS), once among the most ambitious utilities in the Southwest with a 2020 goal to be powered entirely by clean energy (including nuclear) and completely carbon‑free by 2050, has officially backed off that target. The company now says it will aim for “carbon neutrality” instead, a significant retreat that opens the door to continued use of fossil fuels paired with offsets.
To support its revised strategy, APS is joining fellow utilities, including Salt River Project, Tucson Electric Power, UniSource Energy Services, and the City of Mesa. In a major expansion of the Transwestern Pipeline, this will bring natural gas from west Texas into Arizona by late 2029. Supporters argue the shift is necessary to maintain reliable and cost‑effective electricity for Arizonans amid rapid population and economic growth. However, critics, including Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, warn that increased reliance on natural gas could lead to future rate increases and signals a troubling reversal in the state’s clean‑energy leadership.
