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Voters Deliver Split Decision On Parallel RPS Ballot Initiatives

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Tom Steyer is waking up this morning to the realization that when you get involved in politics – particularly clean energy politics – sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

In Arizona and Nevada, Steyer had worked tirelessly to support two constitutional amendments, one in each state, that would have cemented the goal of a 50% renewable portfolio standard by 2030 into law. And just like the rest of the country, the results from those initiatives turned out to be a mixed bag.

In Nevada, voters decided to pass the amendment with 60% of the vote, paving the way for solar to flourish in the state a mere three years after the Public Utilities Commission tried to destroy the rooftop industry by unceremoniously (and suddenly) eliminating net metering without warning.

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Now the vote in Nevada isn’t final. Voters will have to approve it again in two years for it to take effect. But with 60% of the vote in favor, it appears likely that it will find its way to approval in two years and then into the state’s constitution. The state’s current RPS is 25%, putting it well behind other states with equal insolation rates.

On the other hand, Steyer’s attempts to pass a similar amendment in Arizona went down in flames. The ballot initiative faced heavy opposition from the state’s largest utility, Arizona Public Service, which spent hand over fist to defeat Proposition 127, which would have done for Arizona what Question 6 could do for Nevada.

In a particularly provincial, gloating manner, an spokesman for the issues group funded by APS told Arizona Central that Arizonans wouldn’t have their energy decisions dictated to them by outsiders all the way from … California.

“Arizonans support clean energy, but not costly, politically driven mandates,” said Matthew Benson, chairman of the opposition group funded by APS’ parent company. “Arizonans support solar power and renewable technology, but not at the expense of an affordable, reliable energy supply. Arizonans prefer to choose our own energy future rather than have it dictated to us by out-of-state special interests.”

So while the rest of the country is trying to figure out what effects the midterms will have on national politics, clean energy advocates are looking at the results in Nevada and Arizona and asking themselves the same questions. Only time will tell which of these outcomes dictate a trend (if, in fact, either of them do).

More:

Arizona voters reject clean-energy measure Proposition 127 by large margin

SEIA’s Closing Argument To Nevada: Yes On Question 6

Arizona SEIA Endorses Proposition To Increase The State’s RPS By 35%

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

As the battle rages in Arizona over the future of the renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which currently stands at just 15% by 2025, the pro-solar forces aiming to raise that by 35% gained a staunch ally yesterday as the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association (AriSEIA) has announced its support for Proposition 127, which would increase the amount of Arizona’s power that comes from renewable sources to 50 percent by 2030.

Proposition 127 has been the subject of great contention within the state. Proposed by California progressive billionaire Tom Steyer, the proposition received more than the necessary number of signatures to be placed on the November ballot for voters to weigh in on the issue. But it has run into significant opposition from the usual suspects, including Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest utility.

After fending off one lawsuit and several political action committees later, the proposition is moving forward and will be before voters in two months.

The association is urging a “yes” vote on the proposition, which will be included on ballots for the November 6 election. A victory for this proposition will expand the solar and renewable energy industries in Arizona, leading to more job creation, a cleaner environment, and better public health across the state.

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“There is vast, untapped potential in solar and other renewable energies, and all Arizonans will benefit from increasing our reliance on these sustainable resources,” said Brandon Cheshire, AriSEIA president. “We believe Proposition 127 is a critical step in the right direction,” Cheshire said. “It’s a step toward more jobs for Arizonans, cleaner air for our children and future generations, and a more resilient power grid for all of us.”

A recent report from the Natural Resources Defense Council found that a 50 percent renewable portfolio standard would translate to $4 billion in savings for Arizona.
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“In addition, the investment in renewables and storage will create jobs in the state, and produce environmental benefits: lowering annual carbon dioxide emissions in 2030 by 4.6 million tons, equivalent to the annual emissions from 900,000 passenger cars,” the report states.

Though Arizona sees 300 days of sunshine each year, utilities currently get just 6% of their power from solar energy.

AriSEIA is the largest solar industry trade association in the state of Arizona.

California Assembly Considers SB 100, Should Pass It Posthaste

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

California’s Assembly has a huge opportunity before it right now, and they should seize it posthaste.

Before them is a bill to move the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 100% by 2045. It would match the most aggressive RPS in the nation (Hawaii) and put the world’s fifth (or sixth, depending on who you believe) largest economy on a path to 100% renewable energy. And it would be a huge step forward for the United States because, as everyone knows, solar and renewable energy trends start in California and then make their way to other states in the country shortly thereafter.

Have I mentioned the California Assembly should pass this bill immediately if not sooner?

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Bill McKibbon, founder of 350.org, wrote on the subject in The New York Times and said this:

If any place on earth can handle this transition, it’s California, home to some of the planet’s strongest sunshine and many of its finest clean-tech entrepreneurs.

McKibbon speaks the truth. The state has long been home to the most burgeoning solar industry in the country. And despite new challengers emerging each year, California remains atop the Solar Energy Industries Association’s list of Top Solar States year after year after year.

Its grid had already absorbed more solar and wind energy (though it is mostly solar in California, let’s be honest) than any other grid in the United States, and they are well on their way to transitioning from net metering to whatever the next compensation plan for solar users is. And the results have been staggeringly positive.

It’s the perfect laboratory to show what happens when utilities stop fighting the Solar Revolution and embrace it instead, and they’ve shown the path toward rooftop solar coexisting with utility-scale solar and beyond. Why not take the opportunity to give it one last push over the finish line?

The vote could come as soon as this month, and if it passes it could be historic. Let’s make sure the California assembly knows we’re behind them. Let’s make sure they pass this law – and make solar history.

Op-Ed Argues In Favor Of More Robust Louisiana RPS

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

The key to a booming Louisiana solar industry is a stronger renewable portfolio standard (RPS), according to an op-ed written a solar advocate from the Natural Resources Defense Council in The Lens, a newspaper focusing on New Oreleans and the Gulf Coast of the state.

After discussing the benefits of community solar and a place for it in the electricity generation mix of the Pelican State, author Kevin Fitzwilliam then proceeds to argue that a strong RPS is necessary to drive solar development in the state, a fact so obvious it’s hard to even believe it needs to be said (but apparently it does, and kudos to Fitzwilliam for saying it.

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The op-ed reopens a discussion that was closed in 2013 after several studies determined that a mandatory RPS wasn’t needed, according to the solar regulatory clearinghouse DSIRE. Researchers at DSIRE wrote:

Three major reasons given not to pursue an RPS were 1) that renewable energy generation is more expensive than conventional energy generation, 2) that rising natural gas prices have put renewables at a cost disadvantage, and 3) that federal interest in mandatory RPS goals appeared to be limited at the time.

That last is a particularly strange argument, given that on almost every other issue, federal attitudes about anything would be roundly ignored in Louisiana politics. But now, according to Fitzwilliam, the first two arguments have fallen away, too. He writes:

The bad news is that Louisiana doesn’t have the mandate to develop renewables that is brightening Minnesota’s energy future. And without one, there is no top-down pressure on utilities to get smart about solar.

Without such pressure, Fitzwilliam argues, Louisiana will never be able to get the robust community solar market it both deserves and needs. As he concludes:

Today’s U.S. electric grid has 50 times as much solar energy as was available in 2007, and community solar is helping to grow that amount. As more states across the country adopt legislation mandating renewable energy, community solar will become more commonplace. With all our abundant sunshine, it’s time for Louisiana to come off the sidelines and get in the game.

We couldn’t agree more with Fitzwilliam. It’s time for Louisiana to take another look at a mandatory RPS before it falls far behind its fellow southern states in the Solar Revolution.

More:

Leap to solar in Louisiana requires mandating that utilities use renewables

DSIRE: Louisiana