Wind Power News: Arizona
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
The $3 billion plan to turn Hoover Dam into a giant battery
Hoover Dam helped transform the American West, harnessing the force of the Colorado River – along with millions of cubic feet of concrete and tens of millions of pounds of steel – to power millions of homes and businesses. It was one of the great engineering feats of the 20th century. Now it is the focus of a distinctly 21st-century challenge: turning the dam into a vast reservoir of excess electricity, fed by the solar farms and wind turbines that represent the . . . Complete story »
APS spends $11 million to keep 50% renewables measure off ballot
“Anchoring a policy in the state constitution is not good policymaking and it really cuts against the market and the operating of the system as it exists in Arizona,” said Greg Bernosky, a former APS regulatory executive who now works at Pinnacle West, the utility’s parent. “All of us understand that more and more clean technology is going to be part of of the future, but anchoring something on a ballot in the constitution is just not the right way to make policy.” Complete story »
California billionaire roils Arizona utilities with push for renewable energy
Arizona’s largest utility is fiercely opposing a push to mandate increased use of renewable energy in the sun-drenched state, setting up a political fight over a measure funded by a California billionaire. Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona aims to ask voters whether they want the state Constitution to require half of Arizona’s electricity come from renewable sources like wind and solar by 2030. The group plans to file more than 225,000 signatures Thursday get the question on the November . . . Complete story »
Keeping on the right clean energy course for Arizona
The fight over a so-called clean energy ballot measure from California billionaire Tom Steyer has been in the news a lot lately. At best, this proposed change to our state constitution is ill-conceived and irresponsible energy policy. At worst, it is political gaming at the expense of Arizona residents. Either way, it sets Arizona’s energy future on the wrong course. The Steyer camp arrogantly claims that opposing their bad idea of energy policy is the same as opposing clean energy, . . . Complete story »
New ballot measure crops up in Arizona clean energy fight
Republicans who control the Arizona Legislature are moving to put their own version of an increased renewable energy mandate on the November ballot. If approved, the new measure would compete with one being circulated by Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona. Both measures would insert a constitutional mandate to require 50 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources like wind and solar by 2030 – but the new legislative version would allow state utility regulators to sidestep the standards . . . Complete story »
Utility writes its own renewable energy ballot measure
Afraid that voters might like a renewable energy mandate, the state’s largest utility is working with lawmakers to put its own alternative on the November ballot. On paper, what’s going to the Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday has the same goal as the initiative of having 50 percent of what’s generated in Arizona produced by renewable sources like wind, solar and geothermal by 2030. That compares with the current mandate of the Arizona Corporation Commission for 15 percent renewable by 2025. . . . Complete story »
Greater Phoenix Chamber Opposes “Clean Energy For A Healthy Arizona Amendment”
PRESS STATEMENT MEDIA CONTACT: Janelle Tassart C: 480.215.2149 | O: 602.495.6480 jtassart@phoenixchamber.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2018 Greater Phoenix Chamber Opposes ballot initiative “clean energy for a healthy arizona amendment” PHOENIX – Today, the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors opposed the proposed ballot initiative titled the Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona Amendment. This initiative, filed by an out-of-state group funded primarily by California billionaire Tom Steyer, would amend Arizona’s State Constitution and require Arizona utility . . . Complete story »
Feds investigate Arizona wind farm for killing protected species
Federal authorities have opened a criminal investigation of a southern Arizona wind farm for the deaths of an endangered bat and a federally protected golden eagle. In the latest clash between renewable energy companies and protectors of wildlife, federal authorities have opened a criminal investigation of a southern Arizona wind farm for the deaths of an endangered bat and a federally protected golden eagle. Investigators from the U.S. Justice Department’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division are looking into the death . . . Complete story »
Senate panel approves legislation to override energy initiative mandate
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 . . . Complete story »
Bat, eagle deaths at wind farm prompt federal probe
The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing a criminal investigation of a wind-energy farm in southeastern Arizona to determine whether prosecution is warranted in the deaths of a federally protected golden eagle and an endangered bat, according to federal wildlife officials. A monitoring report indicated that the 15-turbine Red Horse Wind 2 project near Willcox caused the deaths of the eagle and a lesser long-nosed bat during its first year of operation between July of 2015 and 2016, the Arizona . . . Complete story »
