I’ve asked many CSP project developers who have appeared before the Arizona Corporation Commission whether they have considered dry and hybrid cooling.   I believe that clean air and water are our most precious resources, and have voted that way for 20 years. 

                Just to be clear, Kyl does not mention solar photo voltaic (PV) panels, which do not use water; rather his report only addresses Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), which can range from zero water use to very high water use. 

                Senator Kyl – who represented water and agricultural interests for many years — does not tell the whole story.   Agriculture uses 75% of the water in Arizona – and most of the food is exported to other states.    In aggregate, thermoelectric power plants – i.e. plants that boil water to turn a steam turbine – withdraw a stunning 50% of all water withdrawn.  However, because Arizona uses so much water for agriculture, only a fraction of water is used for power plants.  And CSP plants will mostly use retired agricultural land – and use about one-sixth the amount of water use by most farmers.

                Arizona also exports about 30% of its electricity – mostly during the winter months.   There’s an argument that exporting cheap coal power allows utilities to make a profit while citizens bear the air and water pollution costs, and toxic coal ash piles up around the state.   Arizona has 9 of the 44 most hazardous coal ash sites in the U.S. 

I believe Arizona should export all the clean solar power we can generate.  It will mean jobs, skill-sets, a manufacturing base and an exciting future for our children.

Kyl rightly points out that nuclear and coal plants use as much water as certain types of CSP.  Kyl also doesn’t mention that CSP does not contaminate the water with toxics, nor leave behind waste that must be stored and monitored for 10,000 years.

All thermo-electric power plants simply boil water to turn a steam turbine.   Which resource should we use to boil water: coal, nuclear or solar?  Coal is the main culprit in heating up our planet, while nuclear power  depends on a depleting fuel source with unresolved waste issues.  Boiling water with the sun makes sense here in the sunniest state in the U.S. 

I agree with Kyl that water use is critical, and that CSP uses a lot of water.  But the value of CSP is that it can provide baseload power.  Using molten salt to store the sun’s heat means that CSP plants can provide electricity for many more hours in the day.  Developing a local, non-polluting power plant that can get Arizona over the high-use air-conditioning hours between 2pm and 8pm is key.

Simply put, Arizona has a whole lot to gain from developing baseload CSP. 

Innovation is our best asset.  Local generation means local jobs.  Let’s combine the sun and ingenuity for a bright future for our children.