By Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services.

PHOENIX — State senators voted Thursday to put a measure crafted by the state’s largest electric company on the November ballot to compete with a far more stringent initiative on renewable energy.

The 16-11 party-line vote in the Republican-controlled chamber came over objections from Democrats who said the House measure, dubbed the “Clean and Affordable Energy for a Healthy Arizona Amendment,” is designed solely to confuse voters with the “Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona Amendment” being financed by California billionaire Tom Steyer.