Due to popular demand, the City of Phoenix, through a partnership with the National Bank of Arizona and Paramount Solar, is expanding a city-sponsored residential solar financing program.

Solar Phoenix 2 allows qualified homeowners in the APS and SRP utility districts to go solar with no (more…)

Excellent news for solar in Arizona: late last week, the State Legislature put the final kibosh on a bill that would have permanently capped the amount of clean energy used by Arizonans. With your help we’ve been working to defeat the dangerous and misguided HB 2789, which would have prevented any future increase in the state’s clean energy standard. (more…)

Good news in the desert Southwest: on Tuesday, Governor Jan Brewer signed two solar-friendly bills supported by Vote Solar and our Arizona partners. HB 2830 removes the 2013 sunset date on school districts’ ability to install solar and other energy-saving measures. SB 1229 clarifies that the sale of Renewable Energy Credits is not taxable – and also (more…)

In recent weeks, Vote Solar and our Arizona partners have sounded the alarm about legislation that would stop the state’s clean energy progress in its tracks. (See our previous blog post and a recent Arizona Republic editorial to learn about why Rep. Debbie Lesko’s HB 2789 is such a red-alert threat to the growth of solar markets in the state.) (more…)

Clean energy supporters in Arizona are swinging into action to defeat a new bill that would set up a huge roadblock to progress on renewable energy and energy efficiency. (If you live in Arizona, click here to send an email to legislators opposing this solar setback.)

Just introduced by Representative Debbie Lesko, HB (more…)

When it comes to sheer number of solar installations, Arizona comes in third among states, following California and New Jersey.

Until last December, Arizona’s incentive programs were among the best in the nation, with public utilities offering generous per-watt rebates in addition to a state rebate.

(more…)

Regulators at the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) put their stamp of approval late last week on a new surcharge unfairly penalizing customers that go solar. The state’s utilities charge customers a monthly fee to help pay for solar-panel rebates and to purchase clean energy to meet the state’s 15% by 2025 renewable energy standard. Until now, those (more…)

Lays, Tostitos, Sunchips, Cheetos and other snacks will soon be produced with almost no net impact on the planet. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about their impact on your waistline.

When fighting for corporate sustainability and social responsibility, it’s important to celebrate the (more…)

Good news. The Arizona Supreme Court recently upheld the legality of Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff. An activist group had filed serial legal challenges over the years, and this may finally put the issue to rest. Read about it here.

Note that this decision–and the ACC’s actions–are (more…)

In this economic climate, every state wants new jobs. And harnessing the sun for electricity creates more of those coveted jobs per megawatt-hour than any other energy resource. These are high quality jobs across a broad range of education requirements, salary levels and fields. The majority (about 75%) (more…)