Arizona regulators move to place gas infrastructure moratorium on utilities
By Robert Walton, Utility Dive.
Arizona regulators have refused to acknowledge the 15-year Integrated Resource Plans (IRP) filed by the state's investor-owned utilities, pushing them instead to consider more renewable energy and less natural gas-fired power.
The Arizona Corporation Commission also moved to place a moratorium on new gas plants 150 MW or larger through the end of this year, requiring utilities to consider energy storage and clean energy options first.
The IRP denials come as Arizona utility regulator Andy Tobin pushes a proposal for utilities to source 80% of their electricity from renewables and nuclear by 2050 and deploy 3,000 MW of energy storage by 2030.