By Herman Trabish | Utility Dive
Controversial proposed Arizona legislation would impose limits on the authority of the state’s elected utility regulators and make their recent groundbreaking zero-emissions mandate unconstitutional.
Senate Bill 1175 expresses longstanding concerns from some lawmakers regarding overreach by the elected Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), stakeholders agreed. But those concerns were aggravated by the ACC’s November approval of draft energy rules that included a zero emissions by 2050 mandate for electric utilities in the state, seen by some as an attempt to reverse the 2018 defeat of Proposition 127 and its 50% renewables by 2030 mandate.
Legislators are following Republican Gov. Doug Ducey’s lead in attempting to amend Arizona law and prevent ACC from using its constitutional power to set “critical energy generation” policy.
Rose Law Group Co-Founder, Court Rich, tells Utility Dive new legislation aimed at halting implementation of Arizona’s new clean energy rules will be bad for business.
“Studies show the new energy rules are good for business, jobs and cleaning our air,” said Rose Law Group Senior Partner and Co-Founder Court Rich, a Republican who represents renewables sector companies. “National and international businesses are looking to locate in places with clean energy and our leaders are taking Arizona out of the running for those opportunities.”
