Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.
CESL 103

 Commissioner Kristin Mayes
Arizona Corporation Commission
Phoenix, Arizona

 

"Energy for Arizona:  The Arizona Corporation Commission Renewable Energy Standard"

 

Arizona was one of the first states in the nation to implement a renewable requirement for its electric utilities.  In 2001 Arizona’s Environmental Portfolio Standard (EPS) was initiated to promote the use and development of renewable energy.  Building on the EPS, the Arizona Corporation Commission adopted the Renewable Energy Standard (RES) in 2006.  The RES rules require regulated utilities to generate 15% of their energy from renewable resources by 2025.  Eligible renewable resources include solar, wind, biomass, biogas, geothermal and other similar technologies to generate “clean” energy.  In addition to utility-owned projects, the Commission required that a set percentage of the total resource portfolio come from distributed generation.  Since the adoption of the RES rules, Arizona’s utilities have made steady progress.  The planned Solana and Snowflake facilities point to Arizona’s renewable future. Commissioner Mayes will address the importance of the RES in developing Arizona’s energy resources.