Advanced Energy United News

Phoenix Business Journal: In surprise vote, Arizona Corporation Commission rejects clean energy rules

Written by Andy Blye | Jan 26, 2022

Phoenix Business Journal detailed Arizona regulators rejection of the 100% clean energy rules package, quoting AEE's Shelby Stults on the missed opportunity. Read snippets below and the full article here.

The Arizona Corporation Commission, which oversees electricity utilities, has voted down a package of clean energy rules, following an unexpected vote by one of the commissioners. Separately, new legislation would block greater retail electricity choices for ratepayers in the state...

Arizona is just one of 11 states in the country that has an elected, rather than appointed, board of utility commissions, a system that ensures politics are ever-present on the commission.

Shelby Stults, who leads Arizona policy research at the trade group Advanced Energy Economy, said it was upsetting to see such a comprehensive package of rules fail on Wednesday.

“It's really disappointing because it is going to impact business development and regulatory certainty for electricity generation in Arizona, and ensuring that companies who are interested in relocating to a state that has very clear, clean energy goals,” she said. “There's currently nothing on the books now, this was the Corporation Commission's attempt at really formalizing that. So seeing that fall flat is really disappointing.”

Stults said the vote could have an impact on the 69,000 Arizonans working in the advanced energy sector.

Read the full article here.