The Arizona House Finance Committee Passed HB 2701 Today Signaling The End of 3000 Arizona Family Wage Jobs and Millions of Dollars in Economic Benefit According to Industry Experts.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 24, 2010 -- Lesko’s bill effectively removes the requires big utility companies to incentivize clean energy projects. Presently 29 or more states mandate clean energy utility incentives. Local utility incentives, though small, are the indispensable catalyst for the life of the AZ solar industry and necessary to capture uncounted billions of dollar in federal clean energy grant funds expiring at the end of this year.

Clean energy projects represent more than 3000 full time family-wage paying jobs for installers, manufacturing, designers, electricians, engineers, sales and administrative staff in arizona. In addition to direct job losses, Lesko’s bill would effective deny Arizona many millions of dollars in federal clean energy funds already approved under US H. R. 1 Section 1603.

“Clean energy is not about Global Warming, not in Arizona. Here clean energy is jobs, economic recovery, and energy security”. Says Larry Farris, President of Capital Group.

“Clean energy is affordable now.” says Farris, “We have helped Arizona installers offer home owners and businesses at least 20% savings every month with no upfront cost to the consumer. We no longer have to talk in terms of years to pay back. The cost of equipment has come down so much that solar can now compete head on with nuclear, gas, and coal from a consumer costs perspective, but with Lesko’s bill the solar industry will be tied up in regulation, red tape, and litigation while the federal funds simply go somewhere else.”

The US Supreme Court recently handed down a decision requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate green house gases more aggressively (Mass. vs. EPA). In response the EPA has extended their regulatory oversight by 30,0000 more businesses, school, hospitals, and government buildings requiring them to monitor and report CO2 and methane emissions. Additionally, in 2009 the Obama EPA has declared green house gases a human health hazard. As the EPA continues to exert more federal regulatory costs upon schools and businesses Rep Lesko’s bill leaves them exposed and without a clean energy option.

Larry Farris, President
Capital Group, Ltd.
larryfarris@gmail.com
480-993-5513

Arizona Economy     Arizona Solar Industry     Clean Energy Finance     HB 2710     renewable energy finance