Arizona Passes 15 Percent Renewable Energy Standard

Renewable energy technologies got a boost in an Arizona Corporation Commission vote this week. In a state known for its sunshine but not as well known for large, swiftly moving rivers and streams or large-scale geothermal opportunities, state regulators set high standards for renewable energy, hoping to capitalize on Arizona’s sunshine and other renewable energy technologies.

On Monday, Commissioners Marc Spitzer, Bill Mundell and Kris Mayes voted to require regulated electric utilities to generate 15 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2025. For 2006, utilities must generate 1.25 percent of retail energy sold from renewable resources. The Commission’s Renewable Energy Standards allow utilities to use solar, wind, biomass, biogas, geothermal and other similar technologies to generate “clean” energy to power Arizona’s future. The rules package outlines what technologies qualify and allow for new and emerging technologies to be added as they become feasible.

renewableenergyaccess