REFERENCE TITLE: supporting renewable energy |
State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature First Regular Session 2013
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HCR 2023 |
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Introduced by Representatives Sherwood, Miranda, Steele: Cardenas, Gonzales, Larkin, Quezada
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Supporting the renewable energy industry in Arizona.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Whereas, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has declared Arizona to be "the Solar King"; and
Whereas, the Arizona Commerce Authority says that Arizona is "driving the solar future"; and
Whereas, no other industry has created more local Arizona jobs during the recession than renewable energy; and
Whereas, no other industry has attracted more manufacturing firms to Arizona in the last decade than renewable energy; and
Whereas, studies show that developing clean energy on Arizona's public lands would result in a potential investment of $11.5 billion from solar, wind and geothermal over the next twenty years; and
Whereas, no other state in the country receives more sunlight than the Great State of Arizona; and
Whereas, renewable energy provides Arizona with a unique competitive advantage on par with oil in Texas, coal in Wyoming and shale gas in North Dakota; and
Whereas, those states promote business sectors that have created jobs, attracted investment and generated many unique market opportunities; and
Whereas, Elliott D. Pollack and Company pegs the state's nascent renewable industry as providing $2 billion to the economy and touching about 16,000 jobs; and
Whereas, without renewable energy contracts, Arizona's construction and related businesses were able to survive the building downturn during the recession; and
Whereas, Arizona's renewable installations have generated over $400 million in payments to investors under the federal Section 1603 program; and
Whereas, $637 million was spent on solar photovoltaic installations in Arizona in 2011, nearly twice as much as was spent in 2010; and
Whereas, Arizona now has over 600 megawatts of installed solar capacity, enough to rank the state third in the United States; and
Whereas, Arizona's 2,118 solar photovoltaic installations in the first quarter of 2012 were the second most in the country; and
Whereas, Arizona's energy production from photovoltaic systems jumped from 63 to 273 megawatts between 2010 and 2011, a tremendous 333 percent rate of growth; and
Whereas, the 61.6 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity added over that time period was enough to rank the state third in the country; and
Whereas, a 2009 Arizona Public Service study found the utility's savings from solar DE production comes from utilities avoiding the need to produce that same energy from conventional sources, decreases in fuel and purchased power requirements and associated reductions in line losses and annual fixed operation and maintenance costs; and
Whereas, these reductions result in real energy savings for ratepayers; and
Whereas, while other energy source fuel costs continue to climb, solar energy remains free; and
Whereas, Arizonans send nearly $3 billion of their electric bills every year to New Mexico, Texas and Colorado to buy coal and natural gas; and
Whereas, Arizona generates over 30% of its electricity from imported natural gas; and
Whereas, studies show that selling renewable energy resources to other Western states results in lower costs for ratepayers; and
Whereas, adding a renewable energy capacity to the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) would allow the NGS to reduce its carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions through reduced use of coal while creating new jobs and expertise in the Navajo Nation; and
Whereas, solar electricity added to the energy grid in appropriate locations adds stability and reduces costs; and
Whereas, supporting the renewable energy industry in Arizona strengthens our economy by creating manufacturing, research and development, construction, plumbing, management, executive and operating jobs and brings the state healthier, happier citizens and great pride.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:
That the Members of the Legislature support the growth and expansion of the renewable energy industry in Arizona by encouraging investment in Arizona's only energy competitive advantage and the creation of new businesses and jobs throughout the state.