Arizona’s forward-thinking policies have created a welcoming environment for innovative companies, attracting industry leaders that prioritize sustainable practices. Arizona ranked no. 4 in the nation in Site Selection Magazine’s Sustainability Rankings. The Phoenix Metro also ranked no. 2 in the Mountain Region among major metropolitan statistical areas for the second year in a row.
Ranking criteria included the number of LEED-certified buildings per state and per capita, renewable energy capacity and deployment, green industry projects from 2019 to 2021, number of Energy Star buildings, and more.
“Arizona’s ranking demonstrates our state’s attractiveness as an unbeatable business climate that embraces innovation,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “Under Governor Ducey’s leadership, Arizona has continued to advance forward-thinking sustainability policies that will benefit generations of Arizonans.”
The state ranked top 5 for the total number of LEED certified buildings and no. 6 for the number of LEED buildings per capita.
Along with a high ranking in sustainability, Atlas EV Hub, an electric vehicle publication, recently ranked Arizona no. 4 in the U.S. in announced electric vehicle manufacturing jobs, with 13,600 jobs and growing.
The state’s growth in green energy jobs also extends to solar. Site Selection ranked Arizona no. 6 in solar jobs, and with nearly 300 solar companies operating in Arizona including First Solar, Tucson Electric Power and Sun Valley Solar Solutions.
Renewable energy and sustainable materials companies are advancing Arizona’s green footprint.
Recent announcements from renewable energy leaders Meyer-Burger, which is building its first U.S. solar module manufacturing site in Goodyear, and XNRGY, which is building a 1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in the Greater Phoenix area to develop sustainable air handling systems, are expanding Arizona’s sustainability industry.
Meyer-Burger and XNRGY will join Footprint, a global leader in sustainable, compostable packing solutions based in Gilbert.
In addition to solar, electric vehicles and renewable energy, Arizona is emerging as a battery epicenter with battery innovators including Canadian-based Li-Cycle, which recently opened its lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Gilbert, and KORE Power, which announced plans in 2021 to build its 1-million-square-foot battery manufacturing facility in Buckeye.
The state’s sustainability leaders are paving the way for future growth, furthering Arizona as a global leader in advancing sustainable technologies.
