halbergman/istockphoto enough to power every community in the Valley for a year. Arizona has more than 300 days of sun- A shine annually, 12 percent more of it than 30 years ago, thanks to climate change. For most Arizonans it’s a case of sun- shine, sunshine everywhere, and not a drop to power their homes. Barely 8 percent of the energy powering the Grand Canyon State comes from the sun’s rays. By that calculation, Massachusetts harnesses more sunlight than Arizona, with 20 percent of that state’s power gen- eration stemming from solar despite hav- ing 197 sunny days each year, below the national average. Arizona is a top generator of solar power, but it doesn’t trickle down to the residential electric customers because a quarter of it is sold to utilities in other states, especially Nevada and California. When individuals try to break free of the utility company’s grip over their elec- tric bill by installing solar it can be a diffi- cult hurdle to jump. That’s by design, advocates claim. “In Arizona, people understand that solar is here. They understand that solar works,” said Bret Fanshaw, director of Solar United Neighbors of Arizona. “They largely want solar. But they can’t get it.” WHY ARIZONA RATEPAYERS CAN’T GET NO SOLAR SATISFACTION. BY ELIAS WEISS Fanshaw heads up Arizona’s chapter of a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., that advocates for an equitable energy system with rooftop solar as the cornerstone. Advocates, industry workers, consumers, and even courts largely agree that Arizona’s energy system is far from equitable. According to a recent federal appeals court decision, utility companies such as the Tempe-based Salt River Project may be held liable for antitrust violations such as price-fixing solar products. Arizonans seeking energy indepen- dence by way of rooftop solar were robbed of the chance to control their electric bill, advocates argued. Judge Eric D. Miller affirmed that SRP “unlawfully discriminated against cus- tomers with solar-energy systems and was designed to stifle competition in the electricity market.” Miller sent the case back to a trial judge to determine what damages SRP owes customers. “SRP does not believe that it is standing in the way of its customers who are choos- ing rooftop solar,” said Patty Garcia-Likens, spokesperson for SRP in a recent email. The company has long been a political and economic powerhouse in Arizona credited with enabling exponential urban expansion in the Valley since about 1900. Now, SRP is stymieing rooftop solar to rizona’s iconic desert land- scape has plenty of sky blue days with enough sunshine to generate power for any- thing and everything, The Solana Generating Station near Gila Bend. prevent competition, one board member claims. Randy Miller, who serves on the SRP Association Board which oversees its elec- tric portfolio, said the utility is clinging to both the past and to its enduring role as one counterpart of the Valley’s energy duopoly, along with the larger Arizona Public Service Company. As Miller puts it, “They’re like Block- buster in a world where you want Netflix.” But SRP denies working against the interest of its solar customers and points to its recent activity. The utility has more than 36,000 roof- top solar customers with 1,000 new monthly applications. “Based on the current adoption rates, we believe the rate structures are working well,” Garcia-Likens said. What’s the Disconnect? Arizona is the sunniest state in the country. It offers 50 percent more sunshine than the rest of the country. Solar power generated in Arizona today could power over 950,000 homes. Add in three proposed utility-scale solar projects currently under consideration in Maricopa County, and that number jumps over 1.1 million homes – more than a third of the 3 million homes in the state. Demand for utility-scale solar projects has skyrocketed because investors are eager to grab a slice of renewable >> p 14 13 phoenixnewtimes.com | CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | PHOENIX NEW TIMES FEB 17TH– FEB 23RD, 2022
