The Arizona Corporation Commission is considering a proposal that would require the state’s power companies to produce more electricity from renewable resources.

Currently, power companies must produce 1.1 per cent of their power through resources like solar or wind power. But environmental groups want the commission to raise the requirement to 15 per cent to 20 per cent to bring them in line with other nearby states.

The commission is considering raising the monthly surcharge customers pay to help fund the program, but the possible required increase has not been determined.

Residential customers pay 35 cents, smaller businesses pay up to $13 and large commercial customers pay up to $39 a month for do-called green power.

Commissioner Jeff Hatch-Miller said as more states require electric companies to use renewable resources, more and better technologies will emerge.

We have to be very serious about this solar technology simply because we have an abundance of solar radiance here,” he said.

The commission could vote on changes to the renewable resources standard in the fall. —