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In Arizona, the Future of Renewable Energy is on the Ballot

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When political pundits name Arizona a key swing state in November’s midterm elections, they’re speaking concerning the races for management of the US Senate and Home. Nevertheless it’s a down-ballot contest that makes Arizona a swing state within the battle in opposition to local weather change: the race for 2 open seats on the five-member Arizona Company Fee (ACC). Relying on what voters resolve, Arizona might both change into a pacesetter in decarbonizing electrical energy or it might abandon these efforts totally.

Autumn Johnson, government director of the Arizona Photo voltaic Power Industries Affiliation, says that if the 2 Democratic candidates are elected—incumbent Sandra Kennedy and Lauren Kuby)—then “that fully adjustments the universe of what is likely to be potential on the ACC.” But when Republican candidates Nick Myers and Kevin Thompson each win, Johnson paints a bleak image for residents of a state that’s on the entrance strains of local weather change, presently enduring the worst drought in 1,200 years, document excessive warmth that killed 339 folks within the Phoenix metro space alone this summer season, and a wildfire season that’s rising longer and extra harmful. (The Sierra Membership’s Grand Canyon Chapter has endorsed Kennedy and Kuby.)

Till just lately, solar energy was not a very partisan challenge in a state that sees about 360 sunny days a 12 months, says Johnson of the photo voltaic trade affiliation. Arizona’s most up-to-date renewable power normal, established in 2006, mandated utilities to generate 15 p.c of their electrical energy from renewable sources by 2025—and it was created by a Republican-led fee.

However that was earlier than Donald Trump. Right now, the Arizona GOP has climbed onto the Trump Practice and Myers and Thompson are clearly on board, with endorsements that embrace a number of pro-Trump teams.

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Like public utility commissions in most states, the Arizona Company Fee units the charges utilities cost prospects. However the ACC is completely different in two necessary methods: It’s Arizona’s major governmental physique for mitigating local weather change and it holds monumental energy to take action. The fee, which is typically known as the state’s fourth department of presidency, was created by the Arizona Structure at statehood to be largely unbiased of the governor, the legislature, and the courts, accountable solely to the voters of Arizona on the subject of ratemaking. Kennedy and Kuby need to proceed utilizing these powers to hasten the adoption of unpolluted energy. Their opponents need to jettison that authority.

“The Company Fee shouldn’t be setting coverage,” Republican Kevin Thompson instructed Sierra. “That ought to be achieved on the legislative degree.”

Candidate Lauren Kuby says there are a number of issues with that change. “It’s a part-time legislature,” she stated in an interview, “and It doesn’t have the employees or assets to do the form of research required” to make power coverage. The ACC, then again, has a complete of 223 employees members, many with years of expertise in electrical engineering, nuclear energy, finance, power regulation, security, water useful resource administration, environmental science, and regulatory compliance.

In 2019, the fee used its policy-making energy to ban utilities from shutting off energy to prospects in arrears throughout warmth waves, after a 72-year-woman who lived alone died when Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest utility, lower off her energy over an unpaid invoice for $176.84 on a day when the temperature was nicely over 100 levels. Requested if he would vote to rescind the coverage if elected, Thompson would solely say it’s the federal authorities’s job to assist weak folks take care of utility payments.

The 2 slates of candidates are additionally 180 levels aside on the power future they envision for Arizona. Thompson and Myers consider the invisible hand of the market is greatest geared up to decide on power sources. When requested concerning the market’s failure to account for the adjustments in local weather brought on by burning fossil fuels, Thompson hedged. “There’s something occurring to the local weather,” he allowed, however insisted that no one is aware of “the proper degree” of CO2. Apart from, he added, “Crops and forests thrive off of CO2.”

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Democratic candidate Kuby believes her opponent’s view of Arizona’s power future is predicated on his previous employment. Thompson labored for Southwest Fuel, the most important distributor of methane fuel in Arizona, for 17 years. “He is knee-deep within the utility trade,” she stated.

Fuel is the most important supply {of electrical} era within the state (at 43 p.c of the whole), and if elected, Thompson could be regulating the corporate he labored for. However, he argues, his background within the trade isn’t a battle of curiosity, it’s a bonus for Arizonans.

“It provides me form of a leg up,” he stated, “as a result of I can stroll in already understanding how the utility world revolves.”

Apart from, Thompson stated, he’s not wedded to fuel and factors to his assist for mini-nuclear reactors, recognized within the trade as Small Modular Reactors, or SMRs. “[SMRs are] going to be our power future,” he instructed Sierra. “I feel it’s our job as commissioners to take away regulatory obstacles and pave the best way for brand new applied sciences resembling SMRs.”

Thompson stated it’s Kuby and Kennedy who’re too aligned with one gas supply. “They’re actually centered on bringing photo voltaic to Arizona,” he stated, and insisting that solar energy continues to be too costly and would threaten grid stability as a result of it generates energy solely when the solar is shining. “The know-how for battery storage isn’t the place it must be for 100% photo voltaic.”

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That causes his opponents to scratch their heads for a number of causes. First, they level out that the price of photo voltaic panels has dropped by 85 p.c since 2010, making it as low-cost or cheaper than constructing new fossil gas energy vegetation.

Apart from, they’re not advocating a change to all photo voltaic anytime quickly, or ever. What Kennedy and Kuby assist is a change to wash energy in any kind and with an inexpensive timeframe. Kennedy known as her opponents’ prices “a scare tactic” designed to make voters consider their utility payments will go up in a single day if the 2 Democrats are elected.

Additionally they level out that battery storage is already widespread and getting cheaper and extra technologically superior (together with the power to offer energy to the grid from electrical car batteries throughout peak demand). Small nuclear reactors, then again, are nonetheless solely hypothetical. A 2022 trade report concluded that the only SMR challenge that started in the USA in 2000 is “too late, too costly, too dangerous, and too unsure.”

The competing slates additionally disagree on what the state owes the Hopi and Navajo communities that for six many years fueled Arizona’s prosperity by leasing their lands to coal mining corporations.

Kuby believes some form of transition program is required to assist coal-dependent and impoverished communities. The truth that over 70 p.c of all unelectrified properties in the USA are on Navajo land is, she stated, “an ethical stain on our state.”

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The Republicans are simply as adamant that Arizona owes nothing to Indigenous communities, with Nick Myers dismissing any such assist as “overseas help.”

The candidates agree on one factor: that this election provides voters the starkest selections potential. The place they differ is on what the downstream results of these selections will probably be. The Republicans say the ACC ought to finish mandates—and let the market work out what’s greatest. The Democrats say that the state’s vulnerability to local weather change necessitates that the ACC maintains its function in directing utility coverage to make sure that all Arizonans get clear, wholesome, dependable power at an inexpensive worth.

Paid for by Sierra Membership Arizona PAC. Not Approved by any candidate or candidate committee. 





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Arizona

Report of shots fired at Phoenix Sky Harbor prompts heavy police presence

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Report of shots fired at Phoenix Sky Harbor prompts heavy police presence


PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Gunshots reportedly rang out at Terminal 4 of Phoenix Sky Harbor on Christmas night.

Airport officials tell Arizona’s Family that police responded to reports of gunfire around 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday.

One security checkpoint and the PHX Sky Train was temporarily closed as part of the investigation, however the areas have since reopened.

At this time, police have not confirmed if anyone is injured or if anyone has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting.

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Arizona’s Family has a crew on scene. Check back for updates

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Harkins Theatres invites Sun Devil fans to watch Peach Bowl

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Harkins Theatres invites Sun Devil fans to watch Peach Bowl


Can’t make the trip to Atlanta for Arizona State football’s Peach Bowl matchup versus Texas? Harkins Theatres has you covered.

The Valley-owned theatre is inviting Sun Devil fans to watch the Peach Bowl live on the big screen at two locations: Harkins Tempe Marketplace and Camelview at Scottsdale Fashion Square.

Fans can show off their Sun Devil pride and experience the “ultimate gameday setting” with tickets for $22 that include a complimentary small popcorn.

Kickoff is at 11 a.m. on Jan. 1. A win over Texas would propel Arizona State into the College Football semifinals, where it’ll play the winner of Oregon-Ohio State.

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Fans can get their tickets on Harkins’ website or in person at the Camelview at Scottsdale Fashion Square or Tempe Marketplace box offices.

Sun Devils grateful for support

Arizona State getting into the College Football Playoff, or even winning the Big 12 alone, was unprecedented.

The Sun Devils are the talk of the Valley right now, and whether it’s from those traveling across the country to watch in person or cheering from home in the Valley, the team is thankful for all the support they’re getting.

“I’m grateful and blessed to be in the corner that (Sun Devil fans) want to be supporting,” Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo said. “I know what it costs and what it takes to get there. It’s nice to have those people that try their hardest to get there and could be spending every dollar in their bank account to get there.”

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‘We are united’: how Arizona’s attorney general plans to manage border chaos

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‘We are united’: how Arizona’s attorney general plans to manage border chaos


Kris Mayes, the attorney general of Arizona, has vowed to fight the incoming Trump administration over key aspects of its immigration policy, including any attempt to set up deportation camps on Arizonan soil or remove thousands of migrant “dreamers” who came to the US as children.

In an interview with the Guardian, Mayes said that any move by Donald Trump in his second presidential term to unpick the rights of dreamers to remain and work in the US would be a “bright red line for me. I will not stand for an attempt to deport them, or undermine them.”

Arizona, a critical border state that will be on the frontline of the struggle over Trump’s plans for mass deportations, has more than 30,000 dreamers, undocumented migrants who entered the US unlawfully as children but who were afforded rights under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca). The program was introduced by Barack Obama in 2012 but has been under relentless attack by Republicans ever since.

“I definitely will be fighting on behalf of dreamers,” Mayes said. “These folks are firefighters, police officers, teachers – they are part of the very fabric of our state and we will protect them.”

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Trump tried to scrap Daca protections during his first presidency and was only stopped by a narrow ruling from the US supreme court. He recently softened his position, telling NBC News that he wanted to find a way to allow dreamers to stay in the country, though his apparent U-turn has left many skeptical of his intentions.

The Daca program is already being challenged by Republican states in a lawsuit that is currently before the ultra-conservative fifth circuit court of appeals. The case is almost certain to reach the supreme court, which has a six-to-three supermajority of rightwing justices.

Despite the hurdles facing dreamers, Mayes said she remains optimistic.

“I think the supreme court will ultimately see the merits of protecting them. We want to give the courts the opportunity to make the right decision here, and we’ll be making very strong arguments on that proposition,” she said.

Arizona’s attorney general also had strong words about any attempt by Trump to construct detention camps in her state as part of his plans to mass-deport millions of undocumented immigrants. She said her army of lawyers were also primed to push back on any move to renew family separation, the policy under which thousands of children were taken away from their parents at the Mexican border as part of a “zero tolerance” strategy.

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“If Trump tries to engage in family separation, or build mass deportation camps, I will do everything I can legally to fight that. That is not happening in Arizona, not on our soil,” she said.

Mayes added that family separation – which has left up to 1,000 families still rent apart six years later – was “fundamentally anathema to who Arizonans are”.

Mayes and her team have been preparing for months for the anticipated whirlwind of activity as soon as Trump re-enters the White House on 20 January. They have “scoured”, as she put it, Project 2025, the rightwing playbook for a Trump second term compiled by the Heritage Foundation.

She has also been working closely with other Democratic state attorneys general, noting that between them they filed more than 100 lawsuits during Trump’s first presidency, winning 80% of them.

“One of our strengths is that we are doing this very much together, we are united and we are organized,” Mayes said.

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The importance of cross-state cooperation is likely to be all the more critical over border issues.

Mayes said that she was working with her Democratic counterparts Rob Bonta of California and Raúl Torrez of New Mexico – with only the Republican attorney general of Texas, Ken Paxton, taking a very different, anti-immigrant approach.

“Three of the four border states have attorneys general in Democratic hands and we are going to fight for due process and for individual rights,” she explained.

A complicating factor is Proposition 314, the ballot measure passed in Arizona in November with a resounding 63% of the vote. It allows state police to arrest any undocumented person who crosses into the US other than at legal ports of entry.

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Mayes said that the decision would not deter her from resisting Trump’s unconstitutional moves.

“Proposition 314 tells us that Arizonans are fed up with a dysfunctional border,” she said.

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“We are facing a serious fentanyl crisis in our state, and there’s no doubt that Arizonans want our border addressed. But when Arizonans voted for Donald Trump they did not vote to shred the Arizona and US constitution – I strongly believe that.”

What was needed at the border was more federal resources to increase border patrol boots on the ground, boost the interception of fentanyl, and enhance prosecution of drug cartels. What was not needed, Mayes insisted, was Trump’s threatened plan to send in the national guard and even the US military to act as a souped-up deportation force.

“There’s nothing more unAmerican than using the military against Americans,” she said. “It’s clearly unconstitutional, and it’s not something Arizonans want to see.”

Since being elected to the position of Arizona’s top law enforcement officer in 2022, Mayes has established herself as a rising star in the Democratic party capable of negotiating the at times fraught politics of a border state. Her most high-profile act came in April when she indicted 18 people including Trump’s former lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former chief of staff Mark Meadows for participating in the 2020 “fake electors” conspiracy.

A similar prosecution of fake electors in Georgia was recently upended after an appeals court disqualified the Atlanta prosecutor in charge of the case, Fani Willis.

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Mayes told the Guardian that despite Trump’s victory in November, she had no intention of dropping the fake electors case. “These indictments were handed down by a state grand jury, and you don’t do justice by popular vote. The case is in the courts now, and that’s where it’s going to stay until it’s over.”

Such a prominent prosecution could place her in the crosshairs of Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for director of the FBI. Should Patel be confirmed for the job by the US Senate, he has made it clear he will pursue revenge investigations against those deemed to be Trump’s enemies.

Mayes didn’t want to discuss Patel’s nomination. But she did say: “I’m not afraid of anyone. I’m going to do my job, uphold the law and protect Arizonans. I’m going to do it no matter who is at the helm of the FBI.”



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