By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via Arizona Capitol Times
State senators voted Wednesday to give utilities a way to avoid having to get half their electricity from renewable sources by 2030 even if voters mandate that they do so.
HB 2005 would not directly overrule the effects of the initiative being financed by California billionaire Tom Steyer. The Clean Energy for Healthy Arizonans measure, if approved by voters, would sharply boost existing commission rules that require that 15 percent of all power come from renewable sources like wind, solar and biomass by 2025.
And it would put those requirements in the Arizona Constitution, off limits to tinkering by state lawmakers unless they take the issue back to voters.
This legislation, approved on a party-line vote by the Republican-controlled Senate Government Committee, would spell out that any violation of the constitutional provision would be only a civil violation. And that could allow utilities in effect to thumb their nose at the mandate by paying a one-time fine that could be as little as $100 — and a maximum of just $5,000.
