ACC Votes to Support Solar Development in Arizona

Source: AZ Big Media The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) recently voted to reject a request from the state’s investor-owned utilities to set two-year contract terms for renewable energy projects under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). Instead, commissioners voted unanimously to set contract terms at 18 years, providing renewable energy developers the financial […]

Tax Break Leading to Rate Cuts for Utilities

By Roland Murphy for Arizona Builder’s Exchange Despite the sea of controversy surrounding last month’s revamp of the federal tax code, one benefit is on its way to Arizona utilities customers in the form of rate reductions. The relevant change is a cut in the corporate tax rate from 34 percent to 21 percent. Arizona […]

RFP Issued: PII of Solar Zone at UA Tech Park

By Roland Murphy for Arizona Builder’s Exchange Tech Parks Arizona and Tucson Electric Power this week issued an RFP for companies interested in taking part in Phase II of The Solar Zone. The Solar Zone is a public-private partnership between the University of Arizona and TEP, serving as an innovation hub to test, evaluate and […]

TEP’s Sundt Plant to Use Piston Engine Tech

By David Wincher for Arizona Daily Star Tucson Electric Power Co. is turning to an age-old technology to back up new renewable-energy resources. A hint: It’s essentially the same technology you use every time you drive your car. The company plans to build a new power plant using giant reciprocating natural-gas engines — similar to […]