Arizona clean energy measure one step closer to appearing on Nov. ballot

PHOENIX — A ballot measure that would require Arizona’s public utilities to get half of their power from renewable sources by the year 2030 is one step closer to appearing on voters’ ballots in November.

The Arizona secretary of state’s office announced Wednesday that the Clean Energy For a Healthy Arizona Act will qualify for the ballot after the group that is leading the campaign in support of the initiative turned in enough valid signatures.

Clean Energy will qualify for the ballot. https://t.co/Eg4yc9EBd3

— The AZ Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) August 15, 2018

Secretary of State Michele Reagan told KTAR News 92.3 FM that regardless of what other counties send back, the validity rate of signatures from Maricopa County was high enough that it “more than qualifies” the measure for the ballot.

The validity rate of signatures from Maricopa County was in the 70th percentile, well above the 49 percent it needed to qualify.

“Barring a judge telling us that it can’t go on the ballot, (the measure) will be on the ballot this November,” Reagan said.

The proposed clean energy target would apply to public utility companies like Arizona Public Service and Tucson Electric Power.

It would not apply to Salt River Project because it is not regulated by the Arizona Corporate Commission.

Opponents, including Matt Benson, a spokesperson for Arizonans for Affordable Electricity, said the ballot measure is “a bad idea.”

“It’s going to drive up the utility and electricity rates that every Arizona consumer pays,” Benson told KTAR News 92.3 FM back in February.

But a lawsuit is seeking to knock the measure off the ballot over allegedly fraudulent signatures.

The lawsuit said more than 195,000 signatures belonged to people who can’t vote in Arizona, among other alleged issues.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Griselda Zetino and Ali Vetnar contributed to this report. 

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