Kuby, Garcia Condemn APS Move to Abandon Clean Energy Commitments

PHOENIX – On Wednesday, Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project (SRP), Tucson Electric Power (TEP), UniSource Energy and the City of Mesa announced that they will be joining Transwestern Pipeline’s Desert Southwest expansion project.

That same day, APS also announced that it will abandon its commitment to produce zero carbon emissions by 2050 as well as remove its short-term emission reduction goals. Those goals included using 65 percent clean and 45 percent renewable energy by 2030 and having zero coal usage by 2031. Senator Lauren Kuby (LD8) and Representative Brian Garcia (LD8) released the following statements in response:

Senator Kuby: “I am not surprised by APS’ actions after witnessing the last legislative session, where their messaging and tactics to secure bills that placed profits over people undermined the public trust.

Eliminating their clean energy goals while further investing in natural gas will hurt Arizonans. While they claim that this will help reduce energy costs for their clients, we know that these actions mean our electricity rates will keep going up. Since 2023, APS has had two approved rate increases, with a proposed third increase pending. In 2023, there was an 8 percent increase, and in 2024, another 8 percent increase was approved. Currently, APS is seeking a 14 percent rate increase for residential customers.

If their goal was truly to help people save money, they would have doubled down on clean energy, instead they are succumbing to the all-Republican Arizona Corporation Commission, which has ‘disappeared’ Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard, and the Trump Administration’s commitment to keep coal and gas plants online across the country. On top of that, this decision will wreck our climate, pollute our air and water, and prevent the state from building a healthy, sustainable future for its residents.”

Representative Garcia: “It’s an infuriating betrayal of trust that fresh after utilities begged the Legislature for the massive gift of securitization — needed, they said, to help transition to clean energy — that APS has abandoned all meaningful commitments to that goal to kiss Trump’s ring. And worse, they are doing so at the expense of Arizona ratepayers and communities.

Trading affordable clean energy for the more volatile fossil fuel market shows dangerous short-term thinking. This will not only hurt Arizona pocketbooks, but it ignores the urgency needed to address climate change, pollution, and Arizona’s long-term energy needs.”