When I first traveled outside Phoenix, I felt like I had touched down on another planet. The East Coast was a far cry from the Valley, where I was born and raised. Saguaros were replaced by oak trees in Boston and later cottonwoods along the Rio Grande.
Coming back to my hometown after several years away, I feel alien once again as I return to a Phoenix changed by unprecedented investment in technology and grappling with growing energy demand.
I came to The Republic in July to cover utilities, energy and technology after four years reporting in New Mexico. I’ve won state and regional awards for my coverage of water, agriculture and local government.
Covering the environment and the state’s two national laboratories for the Santa Fe New Mexican
brought me around the state, including to a geothermal plant in the bootheel of New Mexico, an abandoned mine near Caballo Lake and the rural communities devastated by the state's largest wildfire.
I previously covered retail, real estate and tourism, and later City Hall, for the Albuquerque Journal. These three roles showed me how various issues — water, agriculture, economic development and policy — intertwine and inform one another.
I'm interested in hearing from you about Arizona's tech economy, including AI, driverless taxis and data center plans as well as the energy challenges that the state faces. I'm sure you have lots of story ideas for me, too.
Alaina Mencinger covers energy, tech and utilities for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at Alaina.Mencinger@usatodayco.com or on X at @AlainaMencinger.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Meet Alaina Mencinger, who covers tech, energy for The Republic
