REFERENCE TITLE: energy rules; urging adoption

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

SCM 1002

Introduced by

Senators Sundareshan: Alston, Burch, Epstein, Gabaldón, Hernandez, Mendez, Terán

A Concurrent Memorial

urging the corporation commission to adopt the proposed energy rules that were previously considered.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

To the Members of the Corporation Commission:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, the current Arizona renewable energy standards end with 15% renewable generation by 2025; and

Whereas, the renewable energy standards are an important tool for transitioning utility energy portfolios away from fossil fuel generation and toward renewable energy, including solar and wind; and

Whereas, a transition away from fossil fuel generation is important for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impact of climate change; and

Whereas, Arizona has abundant sunshine but does not yet lead the country in solar generation; and

Whereas, over the past three years, the staff of the Corporation Commission (Commission) studied and developed proposed standards for renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage and distributed generation; and

Whereas, the newly proposed energy rules would have required utilities to achieve 50% emissions-free electricity by 2032 and 100% emissions-free electricity by 2050, as well as an energy efficiency standard and energy storage requirement that included customer-owned systems; and

Whereas, a diverse array of stakeholder groups favored the newly proposed standards, including major Arizona utilities, environmental groups and consumer advocates; and

Whereas, in 2022 the Commission failed to pass these proposed standards, expressing concerns of costs to the ratepayers despite the fact that rising consumer costs in recent years is due to natural gas price increases; and

Whereas, multiple utilities are now seeking rate increases specifically due to the rising cost of natural gas; and

Whereas, the Commission's failure to update this state's renewable energy standards will continue to keep ratepayers captive to these rising fuel costs and at the mercy of the gas market.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the Members of the Corporation Commission adopt, as soon as practicable, the proposed energy rules that were previously considered by the Commission.

2. That the Secretary of State transmit copies of this Memorial to the Members of the Corporation Commission.