Arizona doesn't lag, it leads other states in pushing solar energy

Jul. 12, 2007 12:00 AM

An article in Sunday's Republic stated that Arizona's Renewable Energy Standard, or RES, lags behind other states' efforts to encourage the use of solar energy ("Costs dim Arizona's solar power potential").

While it is true that Arizona's overall renewable energy mandate, 15 percent by 2025, is exceeded by a few other states' renewable-energy requirements, it is far from true that Arizona trails other states in promoting solar energy.

In fact, under the RES, Arizona will lead the nation in the use of solar energy by individuals. That's because the RES requires the state's utilities to achieve 30 percent of all their renewable energy from distributed generation: rooftop solar or small wind generators. This is a unique feature among renewable-energy standards. No other state has such an ambitious rooftop solar goal.

According to the national Vote Solar Initiative, Arizona's RES will put us at the head of the solar class. On a per capita basis, there will be more solar rooftops here than in anywhere in the nation. In addition to solar, the RES will spur wind farms and geothermal projects, benefiting rural Arizona.

It also is important to note that Arizona was a renewable-energy pioneer: the first state in the country to require our utilities to produce at least some solar energy. Others followed our lead, and today, 23 states, including Arizona, have a renewable-energy mandate.

The article focuses on the costs of solar energy, correctly noting that solar remains more expensive on a per-kilowatt-hour basis than traditional sources of electricity such as coal and natural gas. But those forms of energy are quickly becoming expensive in their own right. The price of natural gas, for instance, has fluctuated wildly in recent years, leading electric companies to seek multiple rate increases that harm consumers. Coal-fired generation, although cheap today, could become the subject of carbon restrictions tomorrow, catapulting it above solar in the cost category.

Investing in solar will begin to drive down its price, even as other sources of continue to climb the cost charts.

There is no doubt that obstacles still stand in the way of large-scale deployment of solar energy. But given time, Arizonans, in partnership with their new RES, will begin clearing a path to a better way of producing energy. - Kris Mayes,Phoenix

The writer is a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Comments by others:

As long as there is no net metering law that allows people to sell electricity back to utilies during peak sunlight hours (spin meters backwards), Arizona lags.

Where's our "million solar roofs"? California is the only leader with solar. Very good point ...about net metering. I have solar cells on my roof, but there's no way I could even consider selling the energy they make back to the utility. They won't pay me squat for it. We need net metering NOW!