On the surface, it seems like just another summer in Arizona.

The “brown cloud” hangs over downtown Phoenix. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is issuing “high pollution advisories” regularly. And our water resources, especially in rural areas, are becoming more taxed as our population grows.

But this summer, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) can take a positive, lasting step toward changing these Arizona standbys: Increase the Environmental Portfolio Standard (EPS).

The EPS currently requires that utilities in Arizona generate at least 1.1 percent of electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2007. When the ACC set that standard five years ago, it left other states in the dust. Since then, though, other states have caught up and some, like New Jersey, are producing more of their electricity from renewable resources than our state is.

Arizona has more solar energy potential than any other state in this country. By taking advantage of solar and other renewable resources, Arizona could produce double the amount of energy that our state currently uses.

Given this huge amount of potential, the Arizona League of Conservation Voters thinks it’s time for Arizona to become a forerunner in the use of renewable energy once again.

ACC staff has recommended extending the EPS to 5 percent by the year 2015 and 15 percent by the year 2025. But we think the ACC can go further. The ACC should increase our use of renewable energy sources by at least 1 percent each year, resulting in 10 percent renewable energy by 2015 and 20 percent by 2020.

Critics of renewable energies — like the fossil fuel corporations — say that it will be too expensive for our state to use more renewable energies. But that doesn’t add up.

As it stands, Arizona is losing money to other states when we buy traditional energies. For example, in 2000, Arizona exported $2.5 billion to purchase electricity and gas, plus nearly $3 billion for petroleum. According the Arizona Department of Commerce, that means half of all our expenditures for energy are leaving the state.

Renewable energy, on the other hand, keeps more money in the local economy. Increasing the EPS to 20 percent by 2020 will increase the gross state product by an average of $200 million annually. It will help rural areas by directly generating more than $600 million in property taxes to fund local government services like education. And it will save water, conserving a total of 23 billion gallons over the next 15 years.

Leaders from across the political spectrum — from former Congressman and current Republican Party Chairman Matt Salmon to the nonpartisan Arizona Public Interest Research Group — agree it’s a good idea to raise the EPS. The Arizona Republic said “It’s time” to raise the bar on our renewable energy standard in a recent editorial. And the list goes on.

Raising the EPS would generate thousands of new high-paying jobs in the renewable industry. It would improve public health and our quality of life by reducing pollution. And it will put more money in the bank for our state. If you want summers in Arizona to be cooler, cleaner, and maybe even a bit cheaper, please join us in urging the Arizona Corporation Commission to lead the way on renewable energy once again.

About The League

Susan Culp is interim executive director of the Arizona League of Conservation voters. The Arizona League of Conservation Voters is the largest member- supported conservation organization in Arizona. As the political arm of the environmental community, the League works to elect pro-conservation candidates to state office. It also works to promote accountability among elected officials. Its Web site is www.azlcv.org