By Patrick O’Grady | Phoenix Business Journal
Tensions are rising between the solar industry and Arizona Public Service Co. over what should be done with the practice of allowing solar panel owners to sell excess power back to the grid.
APS is hosting a series of workshops with solar groups this spring to get consensus on how customers with solar systems should be treated. Solar installers say changes to the program would cripple their business, while APS officials say changes likely are needed to avoid skyrocketing rates for customers without solar.
The fight is getting new players aiming to sway public opinion. A new group, Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed, or TUSK, financed a survey by Republican pollster Glen Bolger of Public Opinion Strategies. His crew asked Arizonans what form of energy they would prefer to see investment in, and 52 percent cited solar.
Among Republican voters, who tend to shy away from green technologies, solar received a 40 percent approval rate — more than double the 19 percent who want to back natural gas and 14 percent who prefer nuclear power.
“What this poll shows is that solar power is extremely popular in the Valley of the Sun and throughout Arizona,” said Bolger. “The evidence in this poll is overwhelming: When it comes to encouraging the use of solar power in Arizona as compared to other energy sources, solar wins hands down, and wins from both sides of the aisle.”
While myriad polls have shown broad support for solar in Arizona, this poll also targeted voters’ attitudes toward politicians who could decide future solar policies on the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Also: Nevada Utility to Shut Out Coal, Embrace Renewables
If you’d like to discuss energy issues, contact Court Rich, Co-Chair of Rose Law Group’s Renewable Energy Department at crich@roselawgroup.com
