Solar panel companies sue Revenue Department over property tax hike
Two solar panel companies filed a lawsuit today alleging the Arizona Department of Revenue acted illegally last year by issuing a new interpretation of existing property tax law which stripped an exemption from homeowners’ leased solar panels.
Defeated ‘solar team’ weighs in: ‘Chickens coming home to roost’
A year before the Arizona Corporation Commission began formally considering reductions to rooftop solar panel incentives, Arizona voters rejected three Democratic commission candidates who billed themselves as the “solar team.”
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.
APS: $3.7 million spent on metering publicity
Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest energy company, told regulators Nov. 6 that its parent corporation has spent $3.7 million dollars to fight for a drastic reduction to a key rooftop solar incentive in Arizona.
Net metering battle takes center stage
Statewide political warfare is usually reserved for even-numbered years, targets millions of Arizona voters and follows well-defined partisan boundaries. But the fight over solar energy in Arizona has broken all those maxims this year.
Incentive program enables hundreds of schools to go solar
As students cavort around Sunnyslope Elementary School’s playground, a shade structure high above the slides and monkey bars helps harness the sun’s power.
Company promotes new solar power vision for Arizona
Until now, visions of Arizona homes powered by renewable energy have centered mostly on rooftop solar panels or huge solar power plants in the desert.
House Democrats pushing renewable energy bills
Give money to schools to install solar panels on their roofs. Eliminate extra paperwork for homeowners seeking to install panels on their roofs. Endorse a plan that encourages utilities to invest in the state’s renewable energy industry.
Local governments adding renewable energy through grants, partnerships
Some local governments had already been investing in solar projects before federal stimulus grants were available, but now many more cities and counties are doing so. Experts say to expect more solar projects to pop up around Arizona and the rest of the country as local governments face a deadline of using stimulus money by the end of 2012.
Tucson residents can buy blocks of solar power
Customers of Tucson Electric Power are being offered the chance to buy power from the company's newest solar plant.