This week (September 21–25), the water power industry descends on Phoenix, Arizona, for National Hydropower Association’s (NHA) Clean Currents, bringing together hydropower, pumped storage, and marine energy professionals from across the globe!

Wednesday night’s welcoming reception puts a distinctly Arizona spin on industry networking, with some exhibiting companies adopting the identity of an iconic Arizona town, transforming their booths into themed “saloons” that give attendees a taste of the state’s frontier history.

Below, tour the famed Arizona towns ‘taking over’ the Clean Currents floor.

TOUR THE TOWNS

Tombstone – Nencini Spa | Booth #1648

The famous O.K. Corral gunfight actually lasted only about 30-seconds, but it became one of the most legendary shootouts in American history.

Allen Street in Tombstone, Arizona. (Photo Credit – tifoultoute / Wikimedia)

Bisbee – American Babbitt Bearing | Booth #1038

Bisbee is home to the Lavender Pit, a former open-pit copper mine so large it’s visible from space; the copper helped make the town one of the richest mining communities in the West.

Main Street in Bisbee, Arizona. (Photo Credit – Willjay / Wikimedia)

Prescott – Barnard Construction Company | Booth #1217

World’s Oldest Rodeo has been held since 1888, making Prescott the birthplace of one of America’s longest-running rodeo traditions.

Whiskey Row in Prescott, Arizona. (Photo Credit – Chris English / Wikimedia)

Wickenburg – Cutting Edge Onsite Machining | Booth #1032

Wickenburg is known as the “Dude Ranch Capital of Arizona,” where visitors can still experience authentic cattle drives, trail rides, and cowboy life.

The Sonoran Desert outside of Wickenburg, Arizona. (Photo Credit – (Wilson44691 / Wikimedia).

Jerome – Hydropower Research Institute | Booth #1549

Built on the side of Cleopatra Hill, Jerome’s steep streets and hillside buildings have earned it the nickname “America’s Most Vertical City.”

Panorama of Jerome as seen from Jerome Cemetery. (Photo Credit – Finetooth / Wikimedia)

Williams – Schnabel Engineering | Booth #1108

Williams was the last town on U.S. Route 66 to be bypassed by the interstate, preserving much of its classic Route 66 charm.

Williams Town Center during the wintertime. (Photo Credit – Christophe Krief / Wikimedia)

Payson – Troutman Pepper Locke

Long before it became a ranching town, the Payson area was home to the ancient Ancestral Puebloans, whose cliff dwellings and artifacts can still be found nearby.

Montezuma Castle National Monument near Payson, Arizona. (Photo Credit – Beyond My Ken / Wikimedia)

Scottsdale – Salt River Project | Booth #1141

Before becoming a luxury destination, Scottsdale was known as “The West’s Most Western Town,” a nickname it still proudly embraces through its Old Town cowboy heritage and public art.

Old Town in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo Credit – Dru Bloomfield / Wikimedia)

Cottonwood – Lindsay Olson, PNNL Artist-in-Residence | Booth #1630

Once a rough-and-tumble bootlegging town during Prohibition, Cottonwood’s historic Main Street was nicknamed “Arizona’s Biggest Little Town,” and it’s now lined with restored saloons, tasting rooms, and Old West-era buildings.

The Old Town historic district in Cottonwood, Arizona. (Photo Credit – Finetooth / Wikimedia)

Apache Junction – FirstLight Power | Booth #1147

Gateway to the legendary Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction is closely tied to the enduring legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, a mythical hidden treasure that has inspired treasure seekers for more than a century!

Superstition Mountain located outside of Apache Junction, Arizona. (Photo Credit – Waqcku / Wikimedia)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about Clean Currents, click HERE.