More of the Same Expensive Dependence on Fossil Fuels in TEP and APS 2026 Energy Plans

cleantechnica.com Nov 3, 2026

More of the Same Expensive Dependence on Fossil Fuels in TEP and APS 2026 Energy Plans

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Nov 3, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Arizona’s two largest utilities, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and Arizona Public Service (APS), submitted 2026 Integrated Resource Plans that outline energy procurement through 2041. Both filings retain fossil‑fuel projects despite including renewable and storage additions. APS proposes over 4,000 MW of new natural‑gas capacity, eight methane‑fired turbines at the Redhawk Expansion, and an extension of coal supply to keep Four Corners plant operating until 2038, while also seeking a 14 % rate increase that would add $240 to residential bills. TEP plans to convert two coal units at Springerville to gas by 2031, add 300 MW of gas generation, and delay its carbon‑reduction target of 80 % by 2035. Both plans await approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission and are open for public comment.

💡 Why It Matters

· Ratepayers face higher bills while utilities double down on costly fossil infrastructure, undermining Arizona’s climate goals and prolonging reliance on polluting energy sources.

Capsules Energy

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If The US Department Of Defense Gets Solar Power, Why Can’t We?

White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico inaugurated a 700‑kW solar microgrid in February 2025, integrating photovoltaic panels, a 500‑kW natural‑gas generator, and a 500‑kW lithium‑ion battery bank. The system supplies backup power to four groundwater wells, meeting Army requirements for 14 days of autonomous operation during grid outages. The project, built by HSGS‑Ameresco and supported by Cantsink’s specialized foundations, demonstrates the Department of Defense’s commitment to resilient, hybrid energy solutions at military sites.

💡 The microgrid showcases how solar, combined with storage and backup generation, can reliably support critical military infrastructure, challenging prevailing doubts about photovoltaic dependability.

techcrunch.com · Nov 4

Data centers are turning to old jet engines as the wait for…

AI data centers are turning to converted jet engines to generate electricity amid long grid connection waits. Retired aircraft engines are rebuilt to burn natural gas, allowing a data center to be operational in about 24 months versus up to seven years for grid hookups. Companies such as xAI, OpenAI, and Crusoe have deployed or ordered these units, while Microsoft withdrew from a project due to power delays. The engines are less efficient and more polluting than conventional turbines, suggesting a temporary solution.

💡 The rapid deployment of jet‑engine turbines underscores the urgent power crunch driving AI infrastructure to self‑generate, revealing a gap between energy supply and the sector’s explosive growth.

cleantechnica.com · Nov 3

The Future of Buildings in Illinois Is Electric

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) authorized a study to determine the most affordable path for Illinois to meet its Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) goal of 100% clean energy by 2050. A consultant modeled five gas‑decarbonization scenarios, evaluating technical feasibility, costs, system impacts, emissions reductions, and environmental justice effects. The report, though flawed, concludes that building and industrial gas use must fall by at least 50% to achieve net‑zero emissions. The findings align with the state’s Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, guiding policy toward an affordable, equitable transition.

💡 The study pinpoints a concrete 50% reduction target for gas use, providing policymakers with a measurable benchmark to track progress toward Illinois’s net‑zero pledge. It also highlights the need for realistic, cost‑effective strategies that protect vulnerable communities while advancing the state’s clean‑energy agenda.

cleantechnica.com · Nov 3

Trump Wants More Attention For His New Algae Biofuel Showcase

President Donald Trump used the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on November 2 to deliver his closing message for the 2026 midterm election cycle, turning the historic water feature into a showcase for domestic algae biofuel. The pool, which has hosted natural algae growth since the 1920s, was renovated in 2012 and later repurposed in 2025‑26 to highlight “American Energy Dominance” by demonstrating that biofuel can be produced without using farmland. Satellite images confirmed thriving algae by summer 2026. Trump’s speech emphasized changes to the pool’s infrastructure and framed the algae display as a symbol of renewable‑energy progress, drawing coverage from outlets such as The Guardian and positioning the site as a high‑visibility test case for the industry.

💡 By staging a political address atop a visible, government‑owned algae farm, the administration gives the fledgling sector unprecedented legitimacy, potentially accelerating investment and policy support for non‑agricultural biofuel production.

cleantechnica.com · Nov 3

Aluminum–Air Generators for Data Centres Face a Metal Logistics Test

California startup Voya Energy raised $35 million to develop aluminum‑air generators that convert prepared scrap aluminum, air and water into electricity without combustion. The company targets diesel‑powered backup units at data centres, citing advantages over exhaust, noise and permitting constraints, and also envisions continuous‑power installations at grid‑constrained sites. An aluminum‑air cell consumes metal and produces aluminum hydroxide, requiring a supply chain for fuel delivery and by‑product handling that the firm’s specifications omit. Using Voya’s reported 57 % conversion efficiency, a hypothetical 100 MW data centre would need about 520 metric tons of aluminum daily and generate roughly 1,500 metric tons of hydroxide, translating to 190 000 tons of incoming metal and 550 000 tons of waste annually. The analysis highlights that logistics, material sourcing and residue processing could dominate costs, especially for continuous operation, and that Voya’s price targets leave little margin for these additional expenses.

💡 The feasibility of aluminum‑air power hinges on whether the massive daily metal shipments and waste streams can be managed economically, a challenge that could make the technology impractical for large‑scale data‑centre use.

cleantechnica.com · Nov 3

$150 billion more paid by Americans for gas this year than last

A Brown University study finds that since the United States began its war against Iran on February 28, Americans have paid more than $150 billion extra for gasoline and diesel compared with the same period last year. Disruptions to Iranian oil supplies have pushed global fuel prices above $6 per gallon, while domestic refiners’ supply chains remain intact, generating windfall profits of roughly $130 billion for U.S. oil and gas firms between April and September. The article links these costs to a broader policy environment that, under Republican control, has rolled back Biden-era clean‑energy incentives, cut tax credits for solar and wind, and expanded fossil‑fuel subsidies. Combined with $50 billion in direct war spending, the conflict’s total economic burden on U.S. taxpayers exceeds $200 billion.

💡 The surge in consumer fuel costs directly finances record industry profits, underscoring how geopolitical conflicts can translate into substantial taxpayer burdens while simultaneously stalling the transition to cleaner energy.