Arizona governor pulls water permit for KSA-owned company

In 2018 the Saudi Ministry of Energy and Agriculture banned the use of groundwater for alfalfa production and in August of 2022 the Democratic candidate for Arizona Attorney General, now AG Kris Mayes called for an investigation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's sweetheart deal to pump Phoenix's reserves for free. 

But in April, after draining fragile aquifers and lobbying for more water from the Gila River Arizona revoked irrigation permits for KSA.

[Governor Katie] Hobbs announced Monday that one of the company's four leases to Fondomonte in the Butler Valley, in La Paz County, would be terminated, and three others would not be renewed when they came up in February. "This is not about the foreign-owned business," Hobbs said. "This is about protecting Arizona's groundwater and getting the best value of the land for the trust beneficiaries. And we're doing due diligence across the board with all state land leases to make sure that that's what's happening. And we'll continue to do that." [Saudi company with alfalfa farms in Arizona to appeal governor's move to revoke groundwater deal]

About 3 million acres of irrigated ag land in Western states are planted to alfalfa and it takes 3 to 6 acre-feet every year to water an acre of it — more in hotter, drier climates. An acre foot is about 326,000 gallons.

Republican former SDGOP chair Dan Lederman is a principal at one of the few lobbying firms that stuck with the KSA as others cut ties after the Khashoggi murder.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is taking steps to stop a Saudi Arabian company from pumping dwindling groundwater to grow and export alfalfa: https://t.co/5ntCSKf0y7

— Sammy Roth (@Sammy_Roth) October 3, 2023