It’s time to move the Commission forward. We are at an interesting point in the Commission’s history – its profile among the public is at its highest level ever and that presents an opportunity to reshape it.
This means going above and beyond the current “code of ethics” recently adopted by the Commission. As a regulatory body, the mere perception of conflict can undermine the ability for it to effectively do its job. So, this means we must create enforceable rules that:
Prohibit Commissioners or Commission candidates from taking any freebies from entities (and their employees) which are regulated by the Commission. No meals, no gifts, nothing.
Commissioners cannot attend events on someone else’s dime.
Candidates for the Commission cannot take any donations from regulated entities or their employees – neither publicly nor privately funded candidates.
A prohibition on Commissioners and their immediate family members from working for regulated entities while serving, and for a certain amount of time after they leave the Commission.
We need to do all we can to promote renewable and carbon free energy sources, and I will be a champion for solar and other forms of renewable energy.
In Arizona, this means we need to strengthen our renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and increase it from its current level (which requires Arizona utilities to generate at least 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2025). This is outdated and doesn’t meet the needs of Arizona in addressing climate issues or encouraging economic development.
We need an ambitious, yet realistic, RPS goal for our state.
Any new RPS plan must also have built-in protections for lower-income residents.
Arizona should also use innovative renewable and carbon free energy as an economic development opportunity. We can and should create jobs and build economic output while also combating climate change.
As a Commissioner I will work with the private and educational sectors to identify opportunities for workforce development and training programs, as well as capitalizing on new energy technologies to attract and retain quality jobs for Arizonans.
First and foremost, I will work to include ALL communities in the decision-making process around energy policy. For far too long, lower income and underserved communities have been left out of the conversation, resulting in dirty energy operations being located in their backyards and plans and pricing structures that disproportionately impact them. That will stop.
No plan should be adopted that will harm lower-income and working class families in Arizona.
We can have clean, reliable, and AFFORDABLE energy for ALL Arizonans.
One of the biggest problems we’ve seen over the past few years on the Corporation Commission is self-dealing and behind-the-scenes negotiations. Again, this must stop!
As a Commissioner, I will treat everyone fairly and deal in the full light of day. I don’t care who you are, where you live, or what you do – I will work for Arizonans. All of us.