REFERENCE TITLE: supporting renewable energy

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature First Regular Session 2013

HCR 2023

Introduced by Representatives Sherwood, Miranda, Steele: Cardenas, Gonzales, Larkin, Quezada

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

Supporting the renewable energy industry in Arizona.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has declared Arizona to be "the Solar King"; and

Whereas, the Arizona Commerce Authority says that Arizona is "driving the solar future"; and

Whereas, no other industry has created more local Arizona jobs during the recession than renewable energy; and

Whereas, no other industry has attracted more manufacturing firms to Arizona in the last decade than renewable energy; and

Whereas, studies show that developing clean energy on Arizona's public lands would result in a potential investment of $11.5 billion from solar, wind and geothermal over the next twenty years; and

Whereas, no other state in the country receives more sunlight than the Great State of Arizona; and

Whereas, renewable energy provides Arizona with a unique competitive advantage on par with oil in Texas, coal in Wyoming and shale gas in North Dakota; and

Whereas, those states promote business sectors that have created jobs, attracted investment and generated many unique market opportunities; and

Whereas, Elliott D. Pollack and Company pegs the state's nascent renewable industry as providing $2 billion to the economy and touching about 16,000 jobs; and

Whereas, without renewable energy contracts, Arizona's construction and related businesses were able to survive the building downturn during the recession; and

Whereas, Arizona's renewable installations have generated over $400 million in payments to investors under the federal Section 1603 program; and

Whereas, $637 million was spent on solar photovoltaic installations in Arizona in 2011, nearly twice as much as was spent in 2010; and

Whereas, Arizona now has over 600 megawatts of installed solar capacity, enough to rank the state third in the United States; and

Whereas, Arizona's 2,118 solar photovoltaic installations in the first quarter of 2012 were the second most in the country; and

Whereas, Arizona's energy production from photovoltaic systems jumped from 63 to 273 megawatts between 2010 and 2011, a tremendous 333 percent rate of growth; and

Whereas, the 61.6 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity added over that time period was enough to rank the state third in the country; and

Whereas, a 2009 Arizona Public Service study found the utility's savings from solar DE production comes from utilities avoiding the need to produce that same energy from conventional sources, decreases in fuel and purchased power requirements and associated reductions in line losses and annual fixed operation and maintenance costs; and

Whereas, these reductions result in real energy savings for ratepayers; and

Whereas, while other energy source fuel costs continue to climb, solar energy remains free; and

Whereas, Arizonans send nearly $3 billion of their electric bills every year to New Mexico, Texas and Colorado to buy coal and natural gas; and

Whereas, Arizona generates over 30% of its electricity from imported natural gas; and

Whereas, studies show that selling renewable energy resources to other Western states results in lower costs for ratepayers; and

Whereas, adding a renewable energy capacity to the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) would allow the NGS to reduce its carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions through reduced use of coal while creating new jobs and expertise in the Navajo Nation; and

Whereas, solar electricity added to the energy grid in appropriate locations adds stability and reduces costs; and

Whereas, supporting the renewable energy industry in Arizona strengthens our economy by creating manufacturing, research and development, construction, plumbing, management, executive and operating jobs and brings the state healthier, happier citizens and great pride.

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 growth and expansion of the renewable energy industry in Arizona by encouraging investment in Arizona's only energy competitive advantage and the creation of new businesses and jobs throughout the state.