REFERENCE TITLE: statewide feed-in tariff policy

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fiftieth Legislature First Regular Session 2011

HCR 2008

Introduced by Representative Patterson

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

supporting the arizona corporation commission in its efforts to adopt and implement a statewide feed-in tariff policy statement.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, four years ago the Arizona Corporation Commission adopted the Renewable Energy Standard (RES), requiring utilities to produce or purchase 15 per cent of their total retail sales from renewable energy resources.  In light of its success, the Commission may consider designing a statewide feed‑in tariff that would further boost solar energy production in Arizona; and

Whereas, Arizonans have long supported renewable energy and have called on the Commission to support more sustainable, affordable renewable energy; and

Whereas, the opportunity for Arizona utilities to harness renewable resources is at an all-time high. There have been significant decreases in the price of renewable energy, particularly the cost of solar energy, and there is overwhelming public support for renewables; and

Whereas, both Arizona Public Service Company and Tucson Electric Power have proclaimed their support for making Arizona the solar energy capital of the world; and

Whereas, an effective feed-in tariff at Arizona's regulated electric utilities would ensure that worthy renewable energy projects are funded and developed. Such a tariff could be adopted through a pilot program that narrowly targets schools, nonprofits and governmental institutions, which have struggled to deploy solar because they are ineligible to receive the federal Investment Tax Credit; and

Whereas, a feed-in tariff could encourage the strategic deployment of solar energy in areas of high growth and help achieve beneficial infrastructure cost savings; and

Whereas, feed-in tariffs are not paid out upfront but rather are based on the amount of energy they produce each month or year; and

Whereas, feed-in tariffs have been adopted in several United States cities and states as well as several other nations; and

Whereas, the design of a possible statewide feed-in tariff to be adopted by all regulated electric utilities would support the state's goal of surpassing 15 per cent of renewable energy by 2025 and would complement the utilities' RES Implementation Plans.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature support the Arizona Corporation Commission in its efforts to adopt and implement a statewide feed-in tariff policy statement.