Water and power: securing the foundation of growth
By Kyle Backer
Billions of investment dollars have poured into Arizona, fundamentally changing the state’s economic trajectory. But for this hot streak to continue, the core infrastructure of growth must be secure. Today, the availability of water and power are top priorities for the industry — because without easy access to both, expansion efforts will stall.
Arizona has a deep history of successful water policy, with the seminal Groundwater Management Act of 1980 acting as a lodestar for conservation efforts. But will the looming Colorado River negotiations — and the outside coverage it brings — rattle businesses looking to locate in the state? What sort of legislative and technological solutions could fortify Arizona’s water portfolio?
Since 1986, Greater Phoenix has been home to one of the nation’s largest power plants. Over the course of four decades, the Valley’s population has boomed — and so too has the demand for electricity. Can the state’s utilities keep up with ballooning power requirements in the AI age? Will dwindling capacity chip away at the region’s ability to deliver projects quickly?
“The AZRE Forum, our annual commercial real estate update and forecast, will answer these questions and more,” says Amy Lindsey, vice president and publisher of AZ Big Media, which produces AZRE magazine. “Our panels of experts represent some of the brightest minds in the industry whose insights will leave you better informed about the most pressing issues in commercial real estate today.”
AZRE magazine will host the annual AZRE Forum on April 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Camby Hotel Phoenix Biltmore for a lively discussion with Arizona’s top minds about the critical infrastructure issues facing the state. To get tickets or to learn more, go to azbigmedia.com and click on Awards & Events.
AZRE Forum Keynote Speaker:
Anita Verma-Lallian, CEO and founder, Arizona Land Consulting
Energy Panel:
Bill Jabjiniak, (moderator) senior vice president, national community and government relations, EdgeCore
Court Rich, co-founder, Rose Law Group
David Bean, vice president of sales and leasing, Commercial Properties, Inc.
Mark Bauer, vice chairman, JLL
Sam Jones, vice president, Phoenix region, Colliers International
Suzanne Fallender, vice president of global impact and sustainability, Prologis
Water panel:
Michelle De Blasi, (moderator) founder and senior counsel, Law Office of Michelle De Blasi; executive director, Arizona Energy Consortium
brad Tackett, vice president and business development manager, Sundt Construction
Joe Kramer, CEO, Parjana Engineering
Lucas Shaw, director of water rights and strategy, SRP
Rocky Anderson, founder and president, ADC Water
Shawn Bradford, senior vice president, regulated U.S. water, EPCOR