Midterms 2018: Mixed Results for the Renewable Energy Agenda

Climate Solutions Caucus gets slammed, Nevada and Arizona part ways on renewable energy ballots, and Washington state rejects a carbon price—again.

A majority of Americans support expanding access to clean energy, and yet it never registers as a key voting issue.

This year’s midterm election was a little bit different, though. Healthcare, immigration and the economy were the top voter priorities in 2018, but in some specific races and on some specific ballots, clean energy was a central focus. 

Here’s a rundown of the most important election results for the renewable energy agenda.

Inside Arizona’s Latest Clash Over Renewable Energy Targets

Most stakeholders agree the state needs more renewables, but they don’t agree on how to get there.

Arizona's politics over renewable energy have always been contentious. As the state considers adding new targets, this year is no different.

There are two proposals to increase Arizona’s renewable portfolio standard. One, a ballot initiative, would add a 50 percent renewable energy mandate (sans nuclear) by 2030 to the state’s constitution. The other, proposed separately by a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), would increase the state’s renewable portfolio standard to 80 percent (including nuclear) by 2050. 

New Law Aims to Cripple Initiative Pushing for Higher Renewable Energy Standards

A new law quickly pushed through the Arizona Legislature and backed by Arizona Public Service Co. and other business interests is aiming to gut an initiative drive on renewable energy production before it makes it onto the ballot.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Friday that would seek to penalize companies that don't meet the state's renewable energy standards between $100 and $5,000, according to the Arizona Republic.

Arizona Regulators Freeze New Gas Plants, Demand More Clean Energy Planning From Utilities

Arizona’s energy future took an unexpected turn this week.

At a hearing Tuesday for the routine assessment of major utilities’ long-term resource plans, regulators rebuked the proposals and instituted a nine-month moratorium on new gas plants larger than 150 megawatts.

The commissioners are in the midst of examining an energy system overhaul to pursue 80 percent clean energy with a focus on energy storage to meet peak power with clean sources. The building freeze will prevent near-term investments in gas infrastructure that could become stranded assets if the grid overhaul comes into force.

Arizona Utility Buys Solar Power at ‘Historically Low Price’

Arizona utility Tucson Electric Power (TEP) said this week that it will buy solar energy at a historically low price from a new local system large enough to power 21,000 homes.

The 100-MW solar array and an accompanying 30-MW energy storage system are expected to be in service by the end of 2019. TEP said that, excluding the cost of storage, it will buy the system’s output for 20 years for less than $0.03/kWh — less than half as much as it agreed to pay under similar contracts in recent years.

Arizona Utility Files Rate Settlement Agreement with Solar Net Metering Compromise

Solar industry stakeholders in Arizona have reached an agreement with the state’s largest utility that improves on a decision made last year by state regulators that ended the existing net metering program for new solar owners.

Arizona Public Service (APS) on March 1 filed a final term sheet in its latest rate case with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) that grandfathers existing solar net metering customers for 20 years, instead of the 10-year time frame established by the ACC's December 2016 decision. Those customers will take service under full retail rate net metering and will continue to take service on their current tariff schedule for the length of the grandfathering period, according to the filing.

Arizona Commission Overhauls Rules for Net Metering, Distributed Generation

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) voted 4 to 1 on Dec. 21 to restructure how distributed generation (DG) is compensated and paid for in Arizona.

The commission said in a news release that the move to replace net metering is laying the foundation to invigorate renewable energy technologies while providing equity to all customers.

The decision comes after a three-year investigation into the value and cost of solar which included input from a broad coalition of solar, utility, consumer advocates and customers. 

Utilities Spend Big In Arizona Solar Energy Fight As Final Decision Looms

Utility commissioners in Arizona will decide the fate of rooftop solar incentives this week, in what has become the biggest fight over renewable energy policy in the country. A two-day hearing on the issue at the Arizona Corporation Commissionbegan Wednesday.

Interior Department OKs 520 MW of Solar, Geothermal Projects

The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) gave the go-ahead to 520 MW of renewable energy projects, including two solar and one geothermal plant, on public land in the states of Arizona and Nevada.

Among the projects that got leases on public land are the 350 MW Midland solar energy project to be developed by Boulder Solar Power LLC in Nevada. Creating about 350 construction jobs, the facility will generate enough renewable power for about 105,000 households, when completed.

Arizona Governor signs two new solar energy friendly legislations into law this week

Arizona is set to become friendlier to solar energy as Governor Jan Brewer signs two new legislations into law this week. The state boasts of a large amount of solar energy capacity that has, until very recently, been untapped. Solar energy advocates have been working to promote the power for several years, but initiatives to progress the alternative energy have long been stunted by legislative complications. This week, however, Governor Brewer signed two solar-friendly bills into law that could make Arizona one of the leaders in solar power.

Reworked energy bill goes to AZ Senate

A Senate panel approved renewable energy legislation Wednesday that its sponsor conceded is designed to provoke a new legal fight with the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Glendale, agreed to scrap her original proposal, which would have required the utility panel to get the approval of lawmakers and the governor for any change in rules. An attorney for the Legislature said such a move is unconstitutional.

Her new version of HB 2789 simply says that utilities cannot be forced to obtain more of their power from renewable sources than the current commission mandate of 15 percent by 2025.

Lesko said she believes this simpler version avoids all of the legal problems her first version created by giving one branch of government veto power over the rules of another branch. At the same time, she said, it keeps the regulators from expanding the requirement.

Arizona energy bill would give lawmakers a say in state energy policy

Republican lawmakers in Arizona are moving to grab control of energy policy from state utility regulators in a political turf fight over the future of Arizona's solar power industry.

A bill co-sponsored by 30 Republican lawmakers would make any new policy guidelines or rule changes by the Arizona Corporation Commission subject to approval by the Legislature and the governor.

Supporters of the proposal say it would help protect consumers from unnecessary surcharges. But critics say the plan threatens the growth of the state's solar industry.

Arizona Democrats push renewable energy bill

Give money to schools to install solar panels on their roofs. Eliminate extra paperwork for homeowners seeking to install panels on their roofs. Endorse a plan that encourages utilities to invest in the state’s renewable energy industry. These are just a few proposals from House Democrats who have either designed or revived initiatives this session to promote renewable energy, despite anticipated opposition from Republicans.

Arizona withdraws support for EPA greenhouse gas endangerment findings

The state of Arizona, which had supported the Obama administration's decision that greenhouse gases are a threat to human health and the environment, has dropped out of the massive court battle over U.S. EPA's new climate regulations, court records show.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne (R) asked to withdraw the state from the litigation in the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia. The court approved the request this morning.