Arizona Daily Star
A recent article addressed the cost of solar incentives, but it told only part of the remarkable story developing at the Arizona Corporation Commission. The true headline is that while incentives have gone down each year, renewable energy installations have dramatically increased.
Arizona utilities, as regulated monopolies, are ahead of schedule with regard to renewable energy production, especially for residential and commercial installations, and we do not want to see customers pay more than they should. After years of generous incentives have helped commercial solar get off the ground, the declining costs of solar have brought us to a place where the market can nearly sustain itself without them. The fact is, Arizona is a leader in renewable energy and will continue to lead – while keeping costs as low as possible.
Last fall, the Solar Energy Industries Association praised Arizona for being second in the nation for solar installations, slightly trailing California. The association called 2012 an “unprecedented, banner year for solar installations.” Arizona added more residential solar in 2012 than in the past three years combined. In 2012, Arizona was No. 1 in the Southwest for rooftop solar. The ACC is proud that Arizona has achieved this level of success while gradually lowering incentives and thereby protecting ratepayers’ pocketbooks.
