Arizona utility regulators voted Aug. 10 to dramatically increase the state’s requirement on the amount of solar energy and renewable resources used by electricity providers.

The mandate is now 1 percent, but the all-Republican Corporation Commission voted 4-1 to increase it to 15 percent by 2025. It has not yet worked out the details on how the requirement will be carried out.

“I see this as a strategic decision for Arizona’s electrical energy future,” said Commission Chairman Jeff Hatch-Miller.

The commission is considering a raft of other issues that must be resolved as it toughens the environmental portfolio standard already in state rules.

A final vote on all the proposed changes could be months off.

Gleason Opposes Hike

Mr. Hatch-Miller, Kris Mayes, Bill Mundell and Marc Spitzer voted for the increase. Commissioner Mike Gleason voted against it.

Ms. Mayes urged her colleagues to stake out a firm position and successfully pushed for an early vote on raising the mandate to 15 percent. “Arizonans are ready to move forward and so am I,” she said.

“We’re buying a pig in a poke,” Mr. Gleason said, arguing there were too many cost and reliability unknowns that could haunt both utilities and consumers. “When you put this state at jeopardy for 20 years, I can’t go along with it.”

Mr. Spitzer said mandating increased reliance on renewable energy will diversify the state’s sources, providing both competition in pricing as well as insurance against economic shock from supply interruptions.

“It’s suicidal to rely on one fuel,” he said.

Mr. Spitzer also said the commission has been subjected to stealth lobbying by opponents who have circulated petitions against the proposed changes, without informing citizens that the proposal includes caps on how much customers would pay in higher utility costs. —

FYI

Arizona Corporation Commission: www.cc.state.az.us

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