Arizona Public Service (APS), the state’s largest utility, is recalibrating its 2020 pledge to deliver 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2050. Instead, the company is committing to carbon neutrality by that date and scrapping interim benchmarks like hitting 65% clean energy by 2030. APS says the change is necessary to keep the lights on and rates stable as Arizona’s population — and its energy needs — continue to surge.

For APS, the pivot is about reliability and affordability, not ideology. Jill Freret, APS’s director of resource integration and fuels, described the earlier climate goals as “aspirational” and stressed the importance of “a balanced energy mix that best serves reliability and affordability.” The utility is also preparing to tap natural gas from a 600-mile pipeline stretching from west Texas to the Phoenix metro, set to come online around 2029.

APS’s announcement drew an immediate and heated reaction from Arizona Democrats. Attorney General Kris Mayes lashed out on X, calling the decision “reckless” and “a betrayal of Arizonans.” Mayes declared:

“APS just broke its promise to Arizonans. Abandoning clean energy goals is reckless and unacceptable. Our state is on the front lines of drought, wildfires, and record heat.”

Mayes, who has frequently emphasized environmental policy as a central part of her political platform, focused her criticism on APS’s retreat from its climate goals. She did not address the utility’s argument that maintaining a diverse energy mix is essential to preventing blackouts during extreme summer heat. Nor did she acknowledge the company’s position that the costs of rapid green infrastructure expansion could place a financial burden on working-class families.

Governor Katie Hobbs said:

“I’ll be reaching out to APS to discuss their decision and reiterate that we must continue investing in new energy technologies and diversify our energy portfolio at the fastest rate possible.”

Critics of APs, including the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, said APS didn’t abandon clean energy — it recalibrated.

Scot Mussi, President of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, said:

“While this is modestly better than the carbon‑free plan they have been pushing for the last five years, APS’ new ‘carbon neutral’ plan will still cost ratepayers billions. The priority should be reliable and affordable baseload power for Arizonans — not meeting arbitrary carbon goals that require massive amounts of expensive wind and solar that will degrade the grid. Arizona families need affordable, reliable energy — not political agendas.”