Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto and Evan Wyloge
Forese, Little win Republican Corporation Commission race
Republicans Tom Forese and his teammate, Doug Little of Scottsdale, have cemented their lead in the ferocious four-way Republican battle for the Corporation Commission, the latest tally shows.
Lawmaker says APS lobbying to hike solar panel taxes
Arizona Public Service insists it is not involved in the dispute over the taxation of leased residential solar panels, but that’s not what a Republican legislative leader says.
Passionate about solar
Hundreds of solar energy advocates rallied to protect their interests before the Arizona Corporation Commission approved a compromise plan to reduce a key rooftop energy incentive. The debate provided a glimpse into an obscure but powerful group of regulators and raised questions about the future of energy in the state.
Energy regulators approve smaller solar surcharge
In a blow to Arizona Public Service, energy regulators agreed a few minutes ago to a compromise proposal charging users of solar rooftop panels with a fixed fee of 70 cents per kilowatt.
The new charge, which will begin next year, is only a fraction of what Arizona Public Service sought – which was to reduce savings from the solar incentive by roughly half.
Commissioners appear to favor compromise on rooftop solar incentives
Arizona’s energy regulators appear to be much closer to a compromise than either wholesale approval or rejection of a proposal to reduce by half a key rooftop solar panel incentive, based on proposals they submitted to resolve the issue.
Advocates urge commissioners to preserve rooftop solar savings
Arizona’s energy regulators hunkered down this morning in front of an overflowing hearing room as users of solar rooftop panels urged them not to stifle the growth of residential solar in the state.
Regulators set to referee solar net metering fight
After several months of intense and expensive campaigning, Arizona utility regulators today begin formal hearings on a proposal by Arizona Public Service to drastically cut incentives to install rooftop solar panels.
Solar storm
All eyes on Arizona as formal energy hearings begin
At the heart of Arizona’s battle over solar net metering systems is whether utilities can balance solar energy with the cost of maintaining the grid that delivers electricity to all users.
Analysis shows Lewis fell short in appealing to Hispanics
Jerry Lewis, the Republican who rose to fame by defeating Russell Pearce two years ago, lost his Senate seat in 2012 partly because his crossover appeal to Latinos did not translate into votes for him, an analysis of the results of the November elections showed.
House passes narrowed-down contraception bill
State representatives today passed a scaled-back bill that would allow religious-based employers to deny contraception coverage to their workers.
The amended bill, HB2625, passed the Arizona House by a vote of 36-21, and will need to go back to the Senate for final approval there. If approved there, it will be delivered to Gov. Jan Brewer for either a signature or a veto.
Pierce wary of Tobin’s planned redistricting lawsuit
Senate President Steve Pierce said today that he has serious concerns about spending public money to sue the state’s redistricting commission – and even if lawmakers could be convinced to do that, he’s not sure it would be legal.
Bundgaard resigns from Legislature
In a stunning turn of events, Sen. Scott Bundgaard resigned his legislative seat just moments before he was scheduled to take the witness stand in the ethics investigation against him involving a freeway fight with his ex-girlfriend.
The lawyer defending the Peoria Republican told a committee weighing the case against Bundgaard today that the hearing was "no longer necessary."