Arizona's surging demand for water and power took center stage at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council's latest State of the Region series, as reported by AZWater.gov. ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke, hailed as a key voice on water security, joined a panel of experts unpacking the dual hurdles looming over the state's vibrant economy.
Facing an audience of Phoenix's business community, the need for escalated water management was clear. According to Buschatzke, Arizona must expand its water sources beyond the Colorado River to keep pace with the region's thirst. In his expression, "We've got to 'up' our water-management game" – because the Colorado River supply is expected to fall by "20-27 percent." The panel also included Sarah Porter from the Kyl Center for Water Policy, highlighting the panel's focus on sustainability.
Electricity considerations were powered by insights from Ted Geisler of Arizona Public Service and Jim Pratt of Salt River Project. With Arizona's electric-power capacity demand soaring, infrastructure investments are in the spotlight. Both panelists identified a collective need for upwards of $23 billion to support this growth. Pratt pointed out that his company alone needs about $13 billion in new transmission capacity.
Greater Phoenix Economic Council, with more than three decades of regional economic development under its belt, hosted the event, which has been a cornerstone for business advocacy in the area. They have been instrumental in supporting over 1,075 companies to invest in the region, leading to nearly 195,000 job creations and generating significant capital investments.
