Don't Let AZ Legislature Block Clean Energy

A group of us in Tucson have been fighting an uphill battle against TEP installing 10 dirty gas-fired generators at the Sundt Plant when they should be transitioning to clean energy.  One of the road blocks we encountered was the delay in enforcing the Clean Power Plan that put limits on how much carbon dioxide plants could spew into our atmosphere. The head of Trump's EPA, Scott Pruitt, is working to repeal the regulation altogether. Now the Arizona Public Service (APS) wants to slow down the transition to clean energy even further for the profit of the fossil fuel industry. (While the fossil fuel industry is biting at the bit to extract from our cherished national parks, nature preserves and pristine shorelines!)

Do not let them have more power to delay the transition to solar for the profit of big oil.

Ask your Representatives to Vote NO on HCR2017!

HCR2017 is a cynical attempt to confuse voters and stop clean energy from advancing and was added as a last-minute strike-everything amendment with limited public review and comment. HCR2017 would refer to the ballot a measure with a name that is nearly identical to the citizen initiative. It is called the “Clean and Affordable Energy for a Healthy Arizona Amendment” versus the citizen initiative “Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona Amendment.” It also includes some similar language, but unfortunately includes language that would allow the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to do nothing relative to advancing clean energy.

This unconscionable measure is again being pushed by the largest monopoly utility in the state, Arizona Public Service (APS). It is an entity that can only be held accountable by the ACC, the courts, and the people, and now the legislature is proposing to undercut our ability to do that.

Clean energy is affordable, reliable, and resilient. Unfortunately, these utilities do not view it that way and they fail to consider the clean air, clean water, and climate benefits provided by solar and wind.

HCR2017 is a recipe to do nothing and that is the last thing that we need. Renewable energy is a key part of our states future. It can help to sustain our economy and protect our air and water, but the legislature and the utilities need to get out of the way for that to happen.

Please send a message to your representatives today.

Don't Let AZ Legislature Block Clean Energy

Ask your state senator to Vote NO on HCR2017!

HCR2017 is a cynical attempt to confuse voters and stop clean energy from advancing and once again it is coming forward as a last-minute strike-everything amendment. It would refer to the ballot a measure with a name that is nearly identical to the citizen initiative. It is called the “Clean and Affordable Energy for a Healthy Arizona Amendment” versus the citizen initiative “Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona Amendment.” It also includes some similar language, but unfortunately also includes language that would allow the Arizona Corporation Commission to do nothing relative to advancing clean energy.

This unconscionable measure is again being pushed by the largest monopoly utility in the state, Arizona Public Service (APS). It is an entity that can only be held accountable by the ACC, the courts, and the people, and now the legislature is proposing to undercut our ability to do that.

Clean energy is affordable, reliable, and resilient. Unfortunately, these utilities do not view it that way and they fail to consider the clean air, clean water, and climate benefits provided by solar and wind.

HCR2017's strike-everything amendment is a recipe to do nothing and that is the last thing that we need. Renewable energy is a key part of our states future. It can help to sustain our economy and protect our air and water, but the legislature and the utilities need to get out of the way for that to happen.

Please send a message to your senator and add why you want to see more clean energy in Arizona.

https://sierra.secure.force.com/actions/Arizona

More information:

A Renewable Energy Battle is Brewing in Arizona, with Confusion as a Weapon

QUICK RESPONSE ACTION: Register your opposition to the unconstitutional amendment to HCR 2017

This afternoon at 2 p.m., the Senate Appropriations Committee will be holding a hearing on HCR2017.  My state senator Steve Farley (from district 9) is on that committee, so I e-mailed him this morning. (See below.) There is still time for you to write your senator (if they are on the committee) and/or register your opposition on the Request to Speak system before the meeting.

Find directions for Request to Speak here:

https://desktopactivisttucson.blogspot.com/2018/03/request-to-speak-time.html

My previous blog includes the contact information for the senators on that committee and how to find out what district you are in: 

https://desktopactivisttucson.blogspot.com/2018/03/action-alert-aps-wants-you-to-be.html

Feel free to use my e-mail as a starting point. But, please, rewrite it a bit leaving out that you met with him at Environmental Day if you didn't. It would also be great if you can show solidarity by adding: "As a member (or supporter) of the Environmental Advocacy Group..." We want him to be aware that there is a growing group of us supporting his actions to protect the environment. 

Note: If you have a Republican senator, you might want to tell them that you value the initiative process guaranteed by the Arizona Constitution and urge them to oppose the amendment on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. 

Dear Senator Farley,

When we met with you in your office during Environmental Day, I promised to put together a group of sustainability advocates who would support your actions in protecting our enviroment. I have since put together that group and I'm proud to say that it is growing every day.  

Today I am writing to show our support of your opposition to HCR 2017. As you know, Senator John Kavanagh offered a strike-everything amendment to HCR 2017 that proposes a constitutional amendment nearly identical to the “Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona” initiative, but with a loophole that would allow the Corporation Commission to not actually increase the renewable energy standards. Under HCR 2017, the Corporation Commission would NOT be bound to enforce higher renewable energy standards and we find that unacceptable. In addition, that amendment is obviously designed to confuse voters. Even its name is nearly identical to the original initiative's. This kind of underhanded trick shows total contempt for the initiative process detailed in our state constitution. 

I wanted to let you know that your constituents are paying attention and we find this kind of trickery unacceptable and the amendment unconstitutional. 

Thank you for your support of sound environmental policies and initiatives. 

Jana Segal

Sustainable Tucson Environmental Advocacy Group

----

Sen. Farley's e-mail: sfarley@azleg.gov

ACTION ALERT: APS Wants You to Be Confused

Confused? 

Here we go again. APS and their supporters at the Capitol are back with another proposal to subvert the initiative process and confuse voters. Late last week, HCR2017 was subject to a strike-everything amendment, offered by Senator John Kavanagh.

HCR2017 would now propose a constitutional amendment virtually identical to the “Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona” initiative, but with a loophole that would allow the Corporation Commission to not actually increase the renewable energy standards. That's right, under HCR2017, the Corporation Commission would NOT be bound to enforce higher renewable energy standards.

The amendment is purely designed to confuse voters. Even its name is nearly identical to the initiative's. This kind of dirty trick is absolutely shameless, and again shows total contempt for the initiative process.

HCR2017 will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow. If you live in any of the members' districts, please give them a call to voice your opinion. If you aren’t sure which district you live in, you can find out here.

John Kavanagh (Chair)	LD 23	R	(602) 926-5170	jkavanagh@azleg.gov
Warren Peterson (Vice Chair)	LD 17	R	(602) 926-4136	wpetersen@azleg.gov
Karen Fann	LD 1	R	(602) 926-5874	kfann@azleg.gov
Sonny Borrelli	LD 5	R	(602) 926-5051	sborrelli@azleg.gov
Sylvia Allen	LD 6	R	(602) 926-5409	sallen@azleg.gov
Steve Smith	LD 11	R	(602) 926-5685	stsmith@azleg.gov
Olivia Cajero Bedford	LD 3	D	(602) 926-5835	ocajerobedford@azleg.gov
Steve Farley	LD 9	D	(602) 926-3022	sfarley@azleg.gov
Katie Hobbs	LD 24	D	(602) 926-5325	khobbs@azleg.gov
Martin Quezada	LD 29	D	(602) 926-5911	mquezada@azleg.gov

Use the legislature's Request to Speak system to log in and voice your opinion on these bills. If you don't have a Request to Speak account yet, sign up for one here.

Arizona Advocacy Network
http://www.azadvocacy.org/

More information:

New law aims to cripple initiative pushing for higher renewable energy standards