Attendees at last week’s Arizona Manufacturers Council environmental issues breakfast  heard from Erik Mason, global head of energy and supply trading for Nikola Motors, who discussed his company’s innovations in hydrogen and how hydrogen’s importance is growing in the energy sector. 

Nikola moved to Arizona in 2020 and now employs more than 1,000 people. By 2023 the company expects to complete its manufacturing plant in Coolidge, Ariz., which will be capable of producing 30,000 trucks annually. 

Through strategic partnerships, Nikola aims to ramp up production of both electric- and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Nikola has partnered with Wabash Valley Resources in Indiana, which produces carbon-negative hydrogen at the lowest carbon concentration in the United States. 

“Clean hydrogen is one of the most viable ways to lower emissions,” Mason said about the importance of hydrogen production. 

Mason said hydrogen can be used to balance the electrical grid. 

“You can produce a lot more hydrogen when there’s excess power during low power times and can be pulled out during peak power times,” Mason said. “This means that more power will be available during times when people are typically in residence and the efficiency of producing hydrogen power will be more.” 

According to Mason, companies are testing the current pipeline infrastructure to examine at what density hydrogen can be safely blended with natural gas to deliver energy to homes and businesses.

Southwest Gas, Arizona’s largest natural gas utility, is testing hydrogen blending technology in a study partnership with Arizona State University to determine the safest and most environmentally effective hydrogen/natural gas blend percentage.

In order to create a more cost effective alternative energy source, companies like Nikola are looking to find more technology agnostic solutions. There is not a “one-size-fits-all approach” for producing hydrogen – various methods can be used depending on the resources available in the region. 

In states like California and Oregon, the demand for net zero carbon emissions has driven the government to offer incentives to companies like the Low Carbon Fuel Standard that was designed to decrease the carbon footprint in the states. 

According to Mason, the possibility of reaching net zero emissions in Arizona is, “going to be dictated by the government regulations and the market demand.”

Nikola plans to have a hub up and running in Arizona by 2023 that will produce and dispense hydrogen as an alternative energy source.

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A packed Tempe hotel conference room was the site of a Thursday night public hearing on Resolution Copper, a proposed copper mine in northeast Pinal County near Superior, Ariz., that will be the nation’s largest once mining operations begin.

The hearing was the sixth in a series hosted by the Tonto National Forest, providing supporters and opponents of the project an opportunity to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which assesses various environmental components related to the project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

In addition to public hearings, the Forest Service has made resources , including environmental documents, informational videos and explanatory fact sheets about the mine’s effect on air quality, public safety and more.

“The U.S. Forest Service deserves tremendous credit for the work they’ve put into this draft EIS,” Arizona Mining Association Executive Director Steve Trussell said during his testimony. “The process has reached unprecedented levels of engagement and transparency. That is a testament to the way this process has been conducted.”

Supporters of the mine touted the responsible manner in which environmental concerns have been addressed as well as the project’s economic benefits.

The DEIS estimates the project will result in 3,700 jobs and approximately $1 billion in economic benefit — an estimate the Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce and Industry says might be too low.

“We believe that the Forest Service may have underestimated local tax revenues that will be realized through construction activities and new commercial development such as housing, hotels, retail and more, which will occur as a result of the operation,” Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ spokesman Garrick Taylor said during his testimony.

Southern Arizona Business Coalition Vice President Rick Grinnell testified that the demand for copper is growing, which the Resolution project can help meet.

“Since 1950, the population of the world has gone from a little over 2.5 billion people to over 7.7 billion people— over 3 times,” Grinnell said. “Since 1950, the need of copper has gone up nine times and will continue to do so. We can’t live in a world today without mining.”

Anticipating the need for talented workers once the project comes online, Resolution Copper is partnering with schools in Superior to help prepare students for careers in the mining field and other industries.

“They are funding an incubator and entrepreneurship center in Superior to develop local small business,” Trussell said. “They have provided $1.2 million to the Superior School District and will modernize classrooms and enhance curriculum.”

The Resolution project was made possible by a federal land exchange under the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act, one of 80 land exchanges included in the bill. The project received bipartisan support from the Arizona congressional delegation at the time of the bill’s passage.

on the DEIS will be accepted until Nov. 7.

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