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Phoenix, AZ—Today, 37 community, environmental, and public health groups, representing tens of thousands of Arizonans, filed a letter (attached) with the Arizona Corporation Commission asking that it consider the full benefits of rooftop solar in its Value of Distributed Generation proceeding.
“Our letter asks commissioners to fairly consider the full benefits of rooftop solar in Arizona because of how important it is for moving forward with a cleaner and healthier future for our communities,” said Sandy Bahr, Chapter Director for Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter. “The Commission has a key role to play to ensure that Arizona is fully utilizing an energy source that reduces the use of water, limits air pollution, and helps address climate change.”
The letter urges commissioners to consider avoided energy costs, avoided capital investments in expensive new power plants and transmission lines, reduced financial risk from volatile fossil fuel prices, increased grid resiliency, avoided environmental compliance costs, avoided greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced air pollution that harms public health.
“Protecting the future of rooftop solar in Arizona is also protecting my and future generations’ environmental, social, and economic prosperity,” said Diego Ariel Martinez-Lugo, Energy and Climate Chair, Students for Sustainability. “As a university student, the uncertainty of what lies ahead with the current political situation, economic inequality, and climate change all pose threats to my well-being and productivity in Arizona. Arizona should be the leading state in the country in terms of rooftop solar to ensure energy independence, clean air, and economic opportunities for Arizona’s future homeowners”
Among organizations signing the letter were Arizona Asthma Coalition, Arizona Public Health Association, Kids Climate Action Network, and League of Women Voters of Arizona.
