July 12, 2007
Dear Friends,
It has been a busy summer at the Corporation Commission, and so I wanted to update you on the progress we have been making on a variety of energy, railroad safety and water issues.
Last month, the Commission’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) rules were at long last certified as Constitutional, meaning that within weeks, Arizona’s utilities must begin ramping up the amount of renewable energy they produce (15 percent by 2025).
Dear Friends,
It has been a busy summer at the Corporation Commission, and so I wanted to update you on the progress we have been making on a variety of energy, railroad safety and water issues.
Last month, the Commission’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) rules were at long last certified as Constitutional, meaning that within weeks, Arizona’s utilities must begin ramping up the amount of renewable energy they produce (15 percent by 2025).
The RES, which I strongly championed, will lead to thousands of new solar rooftops each year, through a rebate program that is available to any homeowner via their electric utility provider.
The RES will also result in wind and geothermal projects that will benefit rural Arizona and help lessen our state’s reliance on volatile and foreign sources of energy like natural gas and liquefied natural gas.
Last month, I co-authored an amendment that turned down the proposal by California electric utility Southern California Edison to place a 500 KV power line through Arizona to tap into electricity generated at the Palo Verde Hub and transport it back to California. This proposal would have raised Arizonans’ electricity rates and deprived our state of much needed power at a time when we are the fastest growing state in the country. California needs to solve its own energy problems before turning to neighbor states like Arizona that have for years been responsibly building new power generation.
This summer we began closely scrutinizing a plan by Union Pacific Railroad to place the first border-to-border railroad track through Arizona in 50 years. Union Pacific must seek Commission approval to alter 48 railroad crossings that would be affected by this new track. UP believes that none of those crossings will require the safest version of a crossing – an under or overpass – despite traffic projections showing tens of thousands of cars at some of these crossings in coming years. The Commission has the authority to order UP to build an under or overpass at a particular crossing if we deem it necessary.
We continue to work hard at upgrading and bolstering Arizona’s small water companies, some of which are in the path of explosive growth and require major infrastructure improvements.
I look forward to continuing to serve your interests at the Commission. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns.
Very Truly Yours,
Kris Mayes
Commissioner
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