Power companies not taking stance on wind farm bill
FILE - A cow grazes with wind farms in the background in rural Solano County, Calif., Aug. 30, 2023. The people behind a secretive Silicon Valley-backed ballot initiative to construct a new city on farmland between Sacramento and San Francisco are releasing more details of their plan as they submit paperwork Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, to qualify for the November election.
The Associated Press/Godofredo A. Vásquez
The Valley’s two major utility companies aren’t yet taking a stance on proposed legislation that would bar any wind farm within a six-mile distance of anyone else’s property without that person’s consent.
The legislation — House Bill 2223 — would require county supervisors to first hold a public hearing and mandate that any approved development have sufficient financial bonds to assure that any traces from the turbine are cleaned up once the turbines are no longer functional.
And if approved and signed into law, it actually would put a halt to many projects in the works. As crafted by Rep. David Marshall, restrictions would be retroactive to Jan. 1.
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Proposed legislation
Power companies not taking stance on wind farm bill
The Associated Press/Godofredo A. Vásquez
FILE - A cow grazes with wind farms in the background in rural Solano County, Calif., Aug. 30, 2023. The people behind a secretive Silicon Valley-backed ballot initiative to construct a new city on farmland between Sacramento and San Francisco are releasing more details of their plan as they submit paperwork Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, to qualify for the November election.
The Valley’s two major utility companies aren’t yet taking a stance on proposed legislation that would bar any wind farm within a six-mile distance of anyone else’s property without that person’s consent.
The legislation — House Bill 2223 — would require county supervisors to first hold a public hearing and mandate that any approved development have sufficient financial bonds to assure that any traces from the turbine are cleaned up once the turbines are no longer functional.
And if approved and signed into law, it actually would put a halt to many projects in the works. As crafted by Rep. David Marshall, restrictions would be retroactive to Jan. 1.
Both Arizona Public Service Co. and Salt River Project said in separate statements they did not have a position on the matter.
But SRP said it had “concerns” over possible new processes within the proposed bill.
“While SRP has not yet taken a position on House Bill 2223, we have concerns about new processes that could impact SRP’s ability to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to its customers,” the SRP statement read.
Brent Ruffner joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2021 where he writes about developments at TSMC and Maricopa County issues, including election topics.
He's written about stories that range from accusations that a Mesa monkey breeding facility is unsafe to what to do if you encounter a rattlesnake in the desert.
Community: He is a supporter of the American Cancer Society.
Education: Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University, May 2007.
Random Fact: He met former San Francisco Giants outfielder Willie Mays at a Phoenix Firebird game after winning a contest for an autographed baseball.
Hobbies: Hiking in the woods and collecting sports memorabilia.
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