Mark B. Bonsall, Salt River Project

Providing the energy that enables businesses to succeed and commerce to thrive is vital. Utilities such as Salt River Project (whose history is rooted in the provision of water and hydroelectricity) have the power — literally — to help deliver economic growth to the Valley, and it’s a responsibility we take very seriously.

Looking ahead, the emphasis in the utility industry will continue to focus on developing resource plans that increasingly rely on new and different forms of energy and technologies — such as a smarter grid — that will meet the needs of the economy. Amidst all these changes, the mission remains to provide reliable and affordable power, improve energy efficiency and meet the environmental responsibilities that lie ahead.

We walk a delicate line each day to ensure that we provide reliable and affordable power using a mixture of traditional resources, including coal and natural gas; non-emitting resources such as nuclear; and renewable resources, including hydro, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass.

We continue exploring new opportunities to best serve our customers and to power the economy.

In his cover story, “Securing Our Energy Resources,” Joe Bardin explores the current demands on the energy industry and key challenges it faces in preparing to meet future demands. His research includes input from the Arizona Energy Consortium and the Arizona Governor’s Office of Energy Policy. We at SRP worked with him as well, as did other of our state’s utility companies, to provide in-depth assessments and information. And he frames a historical context for the ongoing debates about energy sources and distribution that helps illuminate the planning taking place for the future.

The March edition’s feature technology article examines the growth of big data in applying the many advances in information collection, and the impact it has on a business’s bottom line. Writer Don Harris speaks with both users and providers of big data as well as looking at aspects of employment potential. Discussing an issue that also arises from this mining of information, attorneys who work in the field of cyber security share with In Business Magazine editor RaeAnne Marsh legal aspects for businesses to be aware of.

You Are Here, the biannual travel guide published as part of In Business Magazine, makes its spring/summer appearance and shares travel ideas for Mexico, the Pacific Northwest and the Czech Republic, as well as close-to-home rest and relaxation opportunities offered by our local resorts.

In Business Magazine continues to bring to its readers valuable information for business owners and those truly working hard within their business community. I hope you enjoy this issue.

Sincerely,

Mark B. Bonsall
Chief Executive Officer
Salt River Project

Mark B. Bonsall is CEO of SRP, which is based in Tempe and is one of the nation’s largest publicly owned electric and water utilities. Bonsall is a former member of the Phoenix Metro YMCA Board of Directors, where he served as chairman. He is a past board member of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, and past chair of the board of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. He is currently a member and chair of the boards of directors for both the Heard Museum and Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and a member of the Greater Phoenix Leadership Board of Directors. He is the current vice chair of the Large Public Power Council.