Solar Development in AZ Won’t Sap Water

Climate, energy, and water experts from the University of Arizona travelled to Kingman, Yuma, and Lake Havasu City last week to discuss how future renewable energy development will impact state water supplies.  A drier future for the Southwest, coupled with a state mandate that 15% of AZ’s energy supply comes from renewable sources by 2025, has raised concerns that these new energy sources will use up precious water resources across the state, according to the Havasu News-Herald. However, the experts concluded that future solar development will have a minimal impact on water supplies, as most renewable energy sources require minimal water, especially compared to water-intensive fossil fuel and nuclear energy.