Mark Cardenas, Democrat who came out against Prop 127, got $8,000 in “consulting” fees from APS-backed PAC
By Charlotte Grubb | Energy and Policy Institute
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, the parent company of monopoly utility Arizona Public Service, spent over $11 million from August 12 through September 30 to fight Prop 127, the renewable energy ballot initiative.
Pinnacle West gave the new contributions to Arizonans for Affordable Electricity, the political action committee (PAC) that the utility set up to fight the initiative, according to documents that the PAC filed with the Secretary of State’s office. The new contributions bring the total that Pinnacle West has contributed directly to fight the ballot initiative to just over $22,213,714. That spending represents 4.5 percent of the $488 million in profits that Pinnacle West earned in 2017.
APS spending to oppose Prop 127 Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona
Prop 127 would require APS to source 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The current requirement is 15% by 2025.
Arizonans for Affordable Electricity spent far less than it received during the seven-week period, burning only $2 million. The largest expenses went to the law firm Snell & Wilmer and to other attorneys, and the PAC spent $200,000 on Briefit, LLC, which describes itself as “artificial intelligence for lawyers, writers and researchers.”
