Arizona Could Boost Renewable Portfolio Standard to 30%

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) (Phoenix, Arizona) is considering an increase in the state's renewable portfolio standard. The ACC would raise Arizona's standard to 30% by 2030, from the current 15% by 2025, which was launched in 2007. The commission cited advances in renewable energy technology and the lower costs to develop renewable energy.

The ACC has jurisdiction over the quality of service and rates charged by public service utilities. It tries to balance customers' interest in affordable and reliable utility service with the utility's interest in earning a fair profit.

The ACC wants to increase renewable energy in the state to meet these goals, in order to help lower greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuel power plants. Electric utilities subject to the renewable portfolio standards must obtain renewable energy credits (REC) from renewable sources developed by the utility or private developers, in order to help meet 30% of their electrical load by 2030.

Currently, Industrial Info is tracking 15 renewable energy projects in Arizona valued at $8.95 billion.

In 2015, Arizona installed 258 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity, putting it in fifth place in the U.S., with a total solar installed capacity of 2,389 MW. Wind-installed capacity in Arizona is currently about 268 MW, ranking 28th nationally, with a potential of 1,703 MW using 80-meter wind towers, and 74,414 MW using 110-meter wind towers.

Geothermal power generation is currently being analyzed by the Arizona Geological Survey (Tucson, Arizona), in order to evaluate the potential of geothermal energy resources. The effort has yielded several reports, data analysis and geothermal maps assessing the resource. But due to economics, no development has taken place to advance a power-generation project. According to the Western Governors Association's 2006 Geothermal Taskforce Report, there are 20 MW of identified, near-term potential in Arizona that could be developed.

The city of Glendale has a 2.8-MW landfill gas-to-energy plant, which was completed in 2010 and provides enough power to support 750 homes. The state has the potential to support more landfill gas-to-energy projects.

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