Utility-funded Harvard group has given tens of thousands in airfare, luxury hotels and meals to Arizona commissioners
In this expose, Energy and Policy Institute looks at how the Harvard Electricity Policy Group has been lavishing gifts on members of the Arizona Corporation Commission.
APS spends $11 million, can’t keep renewable initiative off the ballot
The utility has poured money into dirty tricks to keep a referendum on increasing Arizona’s renewable energy mandate to 50% by 2030 off the ballot. But with more than double the needed number of signatures needed, it looks like APS is losing this round.
One blockchain to rule them all
Utility regulator Andy Tobin of the Arizona Corporation Commission has filed a docket to explore the potential role of blockchain technology on the power grid, suggesting that we are entering an age of energy technology convergence.
Arizona 50% by 2030 renewable initiative qualifies for ballot
The Tom Steyer-backed initiative has turned in more than double the number of signatures needed to get on the ballot, as the state regulatory body pushing a pro-nuclear alternative faces yet another scandal.
APS seeks 106 MW of batteries to pair with large-scale solar
The Arizona utility has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for battery projects to allow its utility-scale solar fleet to meet evening demand, as part of a plan to add up to 500 MW of storage over the next 15 years.
Tesla to close at least 13 solar installation offices in nine states
Reuters reports that nearly 20% of its installation facilities will close, as part of the company’s 9% workforce reduction announced last week.
Arizona’s dirty energy politics
An ad being run by a PAC supported by APS is using images of violent felons to scare voters away from a clean energy initiative. But this is nothing new.
Lowest public solar power contract in the United States: 2.49¢/kWh
Arizona’s largest power user has approved a 20-year power contract with a 30 MW solar project at 2.49¢/kWh, the lowest confirmed price for a public solar power contract to date. The deal also involves shutting down a coal plant.
Arizona’s largest solar plus storage plant starring Tesla, First Solar and NEXTracker
Arizona utility Salt River Project has brought together a technological trifecta in its recently commissioned single-axis tracker 20 MW solar plus 10 MW/40 MWh energy storage power plant.
Onyx Renewables gets funding for 80 MW of C&I + small utility solar power
CIT Group and RBC Capital worked together to fund the portfolio of projects spread across six states, with half the capacity in California and Arizona and the other half in the northeast.
