Bringing Community Choice Energy to Arizona
by Russell Lowes
AZ4CC Advisory Board member, Russell Lowes, penned an op-ed for the Arizona Star (Tucson), challenging the alleged benefits of developing more nuclear energy. From a dollar standpoint, Lowes argues, why would the average consumer spend more than three times the price for new nuclear energy compared to solar energy. Dollar for dollar, the average household would get 3 kilowatt hours of new nuclear energy compared to 10 kilowatt hours of solar energy.
The California Community Choice Association (CalCCA) announced November 3 that Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) in the state have to date signed long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) for almost 10,000 megawatts (MW) with new-build clean energy resources, adding more than 3,000 MW since November 2020.
Did you know that utilities’ profit don’t come from the energy they provide to customers. Their profits come from the investment in the assets (the pipes, substations, transmission lines, etc.) that are used to provide the service. The more infrastructure a utility builds, the higher the profits.
“… considering the state’s track record of hostility toward clean energy, the passage of the measures is a testament to the hard work of activists who met with city leaders and educated community members about the issue.”
If Ohio can do it so can Arizona!!