City of Tucson

Energy Townhalls!

Join the fight for more renewable energy in our community.

This week began a series of Energy Townhalls, hosted by City of Tucson, concerning a Franchise Agreement with Tucson Electric Power (TEP).

Despite having the best solar resources in the country, renewable adoption in Tucson is far behind other communities. According to TEPs 10K statements (regulatory filing with the SEC tep-20241231), TEP produces, or purchases, 14% of its energy from renewables. This is low compared with other communities, such as Riverside IL, which has 70% green energy, and Marin County CA, which has 95% greenhouse gas free energy. These communities are examples of how we do better. 

Converting to renewables will make our community far more resilient. Electricity emissions account for over 40% of our emissions, and converting to renewables, while electrifying our energy use, will cut out most sources of emissions.

TEP is a monopoly, we have no means to choose another electricity supplier. The Franchise Agreement is a rare, democratic leverage point to align TEP with the values of our community, that allow them to place poles and wires on our rights-of-way and alleyways.

These deals can last as long as 25-years!

Make your voice heard.

Attend one of the two remaining townhalls, April 4th or April 7th,

either in person or remotely. You do not need specific utility knowledge; you just need yourself and your concerns.

Climate Community Day at Pima Community College

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Pima Community College (PCC) invites you to Climate Community Day on April 8, 2025, at the Downtown Campus.

This event features engaging sessions on climate action and sustainability, including an opening session with Arizona Youth Climate Coalition, an afternoon keynote by Alison Hawthorne Deming, a community organization lunch fair, and a Career Panel featuring local businesses and innovators.

Attendees will explore PCC's efforts in sustainability, connect with community partners, and discover ways to get involved in climate solutions.

Make sure to stop by the Living Desert Alliance table to meet our leadership and learn ways to become involved in community environmental efforts.

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
• Time: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Location: PCC Downtown Campus, Amethyst Room
• Cost: Free and open to all.
• RSVP: Not required.

Food Waste Prevention Week

April 7th -13th

Learn the Benefits of

Food Waste Recycling

Food waste recycling salvages lost food and its associated resources. Wasted food isn’t just about the food; it’s also water, transport, energy, and labor. Recycling food waste can create tens of thousands of jobs, drive innovation, generate clean energy, boost soil health, and generally improve the standard of living for innumerable individuals.

Click Benefits of Food Waste Recycling to review our January 16th newsletter and learn about local recourses.

Click here to learn of national efforts to educate everyone on the importance of food waste recycling.

Tucson Zero Waste Returns!

Saturday, April 5, 9AM-1PM

Zero Waste Tucson is a free, zero waste collection drive for Tucson and the surrounding areas! As a community collaboration, the goal is to provide a resource for local households looking to safely and responsibly reuse and recycle their commonly used goods. The Zero Waste Tucson event is meant to be a convenient recycling outlet for those who participate with a “Drive Thru, Drop Off, and Recycle” system. Cars drive right up to stations hosted by organizations collecting designated recyclable goods, make their drop offs, then drive away knowing their contributions will be properly recycled.

Where: 2700 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716 –

Enter drive thru via First Street

For a full list of accepted/unaccepted items and more information about recycling contributions, visit TucsonZeroWaste.com



Spring Fair &Plant Sale

April12th, from 9:00 am – 3:00pm

3736 E. 2nd Street

Join the Iskashitaa’s Refugee Network campus to celebrate spring in their garden. This year, they are expanding the 3rd Annual Plant Sale to include the garden, art space, and activity area.

Learn about their sustainability efforts, meet neighborhood resources and shop at local artisans’ tables. Experience small batch, hand-crafted jams & marmalades from the IskaShop table.

Local food trucks & local musical groups will be on hand. Enjoy the playground and carnival games! Plus, demonstrations about harvesting rainwater.

More vendors and demonstrations are being added daily!

Sure to be a fun, educational, and welcoming event!

Sahuarita Library

Community Townhall

April 12th at 11 AM-12:30

670 W Sahuarita Rd, Sahuarita

Join Save the Scenic Santa Ritas leadership to learn the latest on Copper World open pit mine and how you can get involved.

Learn the facts:

• 6 open pit copper mines across the Santa Ritas, destroying the northern ridgeline.
• Foreign mining company extracting copper from Arizona for processing overseas.
• 2-4 billion gallons of water use per year.
• 500 ft. HIGH waste dumps next to neighborhood homes and schools.

STOP COPPER WORLD!

RALLY FOR THE SANTA RITAS  



RSVP Here

Major Downtown Tucson Rally Planned!

Saturday, May 3rd from 2 to 4 pm

Mark Your Calendars

Save the Scenic Santa Ritas (SSSR) invites you to join them, along with numerous southern Arizona environmental organizations, community leaders, and concerned citizens to oppose the Copper World Mine open pit mine.

The rally will take place on Saturday, May 3rd from 2 to 4 pm at Tucson Federal Building near Congress/Granada. Prominent local leaders, including Adelita Grijalva and Kevin Dahl, have confirmed speaking appearances along with representatives from environmental groups, indigenous peoples, and affected citizens.

Visit the SSSR Facebook Page to learn more and stay up to date on this important event.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

SAVE OUR SAGUAROS!

Beat Back Buffalograss and Stinknet

Join the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) and volunteer to combat invasive plants such as buffelgrass, stinknet and arundo.

Buffelgrass out-competes saguaros for space, nutrients and water. It also poses a serious fire risk both in the desert and in our city. Join others in their efforts to combat this weed. There will be live Desert Museum animals, tasty pastries and more.

Next event:

Catalina State Park Buffelgrass Dig

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Time: 8 am- 12 pm

Click here for links to multiple invasive plant removal events.

Click here to learn Stinknet from Stinket.org, a community of volunteers working in tandem with the ASDM to fight and stop the spread of this weed.

Pima County Seeks Community’s Input

on Climate Plan

Series of public input sessions April through June 2025

Pima County and its coalition partners are holding a series of public sessions beginning April 3rd and running through the end of June, with each one dedicated to focusing on reduction measures for greenhouse gas emissions from seven different sectors. See our March 27th newsletter for additional details.

All sessions are free and open to the public.

To register for any of them, visit www.pima.gov/ClimatePlan.