AZ Corporation Commissioner Paul Newman
Phoenix AZ (July 19, 2011) – “Last week was a bad one for solar energy in Arizona,” declared Arizona Corporation Commissioner Paul Newman. “Over the objections of Commissioner Kennedy and I, the Commission’s Republican majority took a huge step backward in Arizona’s renewable energy rules by voting that burning trash for electricity qualifies as ‘clean energy.’
“Instead of requiring the Mohave County Electric Co-op to add solar or wind to its energy portfolio, the Commission’s decision will enable the utility to burn garbage and get credit for producing renewable energy.
“Adding insult to injury, the trash will be burned in Phoenix – with the 2nd worst air quality in the nation – and will be used to offset Mohave County Electric Co-op’s need for solar and wind.
“The Commission’s decision means the Mohave County area won’t need commercial scale solar or wind for 12 years – until 2023,” declared Newman.
When the Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff (REST) rules were written a few years ago, this issue was hotly debated and burning trash was not included in the definition of ‘clean energy.’
“Why would the sunniest state in the U.S. encourage burning trash over installing solar, and then pretend it’s clean?” asked Newman. “Chairman Pierce does not have the power to turn garbage into clean energy simply by declaration.”
He added, “Arizona voters, who have said again and again that they favor renewable energy, need to know that the current Arizona Corporation Commission doesn’t get it and are not supporting what people want. It’s an embarrassment.”
Newman argued the need for a pro-business stance, “In a state with a hobbled economy and a need for energy and economic diversification, the Arizona Corporation Commission is not only acting with indifference toward the renewable energy industry, they are now supporting public policy that creates a disincentive.”
“The Arizona Corporation Commission is not paying attention to what really matters. APS has run completely out of rebates, and the solar industry is going to come to a standstill. Citizens need to remind Chairman Pierce and his Republican colleagues that 94% of APS customers polled want more clean energy.”
Newman has repeatedly said that Arizonans “send $3 billion out of state every year to buy fuel, while investing only $150 million year in clean energy.”
The Democratic AZ Corporation Commissioner thanked Governor Jan Brewer for the July 1, 2011 Don’t Trash Arizona Day declaration with a call for policy action. “I thank her for that and call on the Governor to extend that message to her Republican colleagues on the Arizona Corporation Commissionwho have chosen to trash Arizona’s clean energy rules while effectively killing the solar industry in Mohave County for the next decade.”
On July 19, 2011, Commissioner Newman issued a statement in opposition to Arizona Corporation Commission Chairman Pierce’s call for a police investigation of substances found in the Corporation office building in downtown Phoenix. Newman accused the AZCC Chairman of “stomping on civil rights.”
Read Newman’s published comments on the AZCC Chairman’s call for police action at https://sedonaeye.com/az-corporation-chairman-accused-of-stomping-on-civil-rights.
Read SedonaEye.com daily!
It’s infuriating to read that ANY Republican (I’m one) takes a stand against solar and wind and other renewables.
REALLY fellow Republicans? In this day and age?
Even our parents – staunch conservative Republican ex-military officer and active community-volunteer wife – WILLINGLY PAY EXTRA TO POWER THEIR HOME with the local power company’s WIND GENERATION incentive on FIXED INCOMES in another state.
Here’s the message to Mr. Pierce and all Republicans serving on this commission and in government– get your head out of your energy provider’s deeply lined money bag — and get back in line with WE THE PEOPLE.
WE THE PEOPLE believe in officials acting BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE.
Lately it seems like Republicans (and Democrats too) practice SHAFT THE PEOPLE. YOU ARE ALL AN EMBARRASSMENT with few exceptions. (Mr. Newman, you are excepted here but don’t start banging the Democrats drum. Renewable energy isn’t a political drumroll, it’s an ethical and morality security-needs-based issue.)
There is a place for both fossil and renewable energy fuel systems in America. America NEEDS THE JOBS.
YOUR JOB MR. PIERCE AND OTHER REPUBLICANS IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT? Do what is best for the quality of our lives AND NOT THE LINING OF YOUR AND CORPORATE UTILITIES POCKETS.
Failure to realize that you don’t know your Republican voters preferences was evident in the last election. You are making the same mistakes all over again. Is it any wonder that the Democrats get elected?
REALLY? YOU STILL DON’T GET IT?
(your news site is refreshing. wrg)
Should Burning Trash Count as Renewable Energy?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has already tackled the question of whether municipal solid waste (MSW, aka trash) should be considered a renewable energy source. The EIA decided that MSW counts as renewable energy “only to the extent that the energy content of the municipal solid waste source stream is biogenic.”
Clearly Arizona’s utilities can, and should, leverage a variety of sources (renewable and non-renewable) for power generation. But when a utility is trying to decide between, say, solar and wind or solar and trash, that utility must maximize its ROI. As the CEO of Mohave Electric is quoted, “We are trying to meet our (renewable-energy) requirements with the most cost-effective methods, period.”
And when the government is going to pony up tax dollars to help defray capital costs for the new plant, I want to be sure that we understand the ROI, too – and that we’re making the most efficient decisions among all the energy-resource choices.
http://www.arizonaic.org/blog/386-arizona-trash-burning-renewable-energy
City of Sedona Accepting Proposals for Solar Photovoltaic Electric Generating System(s) and Power Purchase Agreement
The City of Sedona is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide Solar Photovoltaic Electric Generating System(s) and Power Purchase Agreement. Prospective respondents may obtain a complete copy of the solicitation from the city’s website at http://www.SedonaAZ.gov under “Your Government – Bids & RFP’s”.
Proposals must be received by 3:00 p.m. (M.S.T) on September 28, 2011.
Proposals should be in a sealed envelope addressed to City of Sedona, ATTN: City Manager’s Office- 2011-WWSolar, 102 Roadrunner Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336.
The City of Sedona reserves the right to refuse any and all proposals.
Due to progress being made with state leaders to eliminate a new, first in the nation tax on solar equipment, the anti-solar tax rally planned for Wednesday March 12th at Wesley Bolin Plaza has been postponed. This progress is thanks to citizens efforts writing to Governor Brewer and making your voices heard. Thank you so much for that support.
If there are any new developments with respect to a solar rally we will let you know right away.