Arizona was shaping up as a bipartisan model for 100% carbon-free electricity in the Biden era. Until last month. Now, the politically divided state stands as a cautionary tale of the messy path that may be required to reach a zero-carbon grid.
Arizona’s current standards require regulated utilities to get at least 15% of their electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and nuclear power plants by 2025.
The Arizona Corporation Commission voted 3 to 2 to advance a clean energy rules package that would require regulated utilities to get power from 100% carbon-free sources by 2070, on Wednesday.
Arizona utility regulators advance new energy mandates plan
BOB CHRISTIE, Associated Press
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PHOENIX (AP) A 3-2 vote by the Arizona Corporation Commission moves the state toward boosting the renewable energy requirement for state-regulated utilities but under a slower timetable than a previous proposal that was rejected by the panel.
The commission s vote Wednesday restarts a rulemaking process to require that most of the state s electrical providers get 100% of their power from carbon-free sources to limit carbon emissions and address climate change.
But the new proposal is based on a bipartisan compromise that would set a 2070 deadline 20 years later than the 2050 target in the previous proposal rejected by the commission on May 5.