New legislation to help Arizona “go solar”
Advocates back new bills to maximize solar potential
Arizona produces 98 percent of its electricity from coal, nuclear and other energy sources that pollute our environment and contribute to global warming. In the coming years, the state Legislature can help change that.
Right now, Arizona is failing to take full advantage of our almost unlimited potential to generate electricity from renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind power. We’re working in the state Legislature to help Arizona make the most of its solar energy potential.
Working for change in the Legislature
As another legislative session begins, environmental and energy advocates have come together to support a package of energy legislation that will help make Arizona the solar capital of the world that it deserves to be.
After a stakeholder process that included utilities, homebuilders, environmental advocates and business interests, Rep. Lucy Mason introduced several pieces of energy legislation that will help Arizona go solar and meet our goal of equipping 250,000 solar homes by 2015.
Environmental advocates including Environment Arizona, the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters, the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project and members of the solar industry have joined forces to support legislation that will increase our use of solar energy and drastically increase energy efficiency.
Some of the key provisions include:
• Setting a statewide renewable electricity standard of 15 percent. Arizona’s largest utilities—APS and TEP—and the state’s electric co-ops are already required to meet this standard; however, this provision would level the playing field by extending the requirement to Arizona’s public utilities.
• Improving the energy efficiency of all buildings 30 percent by 2016 and 50 percent by 2020. This will save businesses and consumers money and reduce the need to build new power plants.
• Net metering options for all Arizonans. This provision would allow Arizonans to sell the solar power generated by their homes back to their utility at a fair rate.
A solar array at a solar research center in Phoenix.
