[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6637805,"mediaKeyId","2578731-bd302e20a90e250408efb0a949788652","parentId",2578731,"title","Committee advances bill requiring dispatchable replacements for retiring power plants amid debate","audioSeconds",1206,"startMs",713000,"endMs",1919000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2578731-bd302e20a90e250408efb0a949788652&start=713&end=1919","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2578731-bd302e20a90e250408efb0a949788652/thumbnail_713000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6637805/Arizona/Committee-advances-bill-requiring-dispatchable-replacements-for-retiring-power-plants-amid-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637805-797ed35371c4152fc3e8ea774cd9d06c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775352612&Signature=VAGhj1TEXtyddtyBEqAlBuyicCzQl4IsgZUmIiq1WYT78JCenkjzpV8rxnW21SG8b4ao9rD1uQRDrkT2bv60C-UW8KaxsPL1ZM6pSy6WfMWQKmQfh9Svgn0YO~dqQ0BbO9L9O20XjYaP-KvO~0nu5z3aqgTYoS2McuaOVBPTQvKA2JNfZCYLqKxRAjukT3NCE8Xbo6JkE-HK3GQOhpmzI3Zz-MPnuslDTYFymLiBlJKX0S3c5OImnuf0S3USmbU-X2huo0u6CAB4U1ZhtykO0RHi2nZDagi8V1P-i6bunOuOYQWvNErbSzIvCnaLL9j5B3XDUGMQl4W7gvyDsc48-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Arizona Legislature","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 1309, which directs the Arizona Corporation Commission to ensure that retiring electric generation plants are replaced by dispatchable resources, was returned with a due-pass recommendation by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water following testimony and extended questioning.

James Taylor, testifying for the Heartland Institute, told the committee the bill is intended to \"get in front of the upcoming crisis\" he said would occur if the state does not ensure sufficient dispatchable base-load generation as demand rises. \"Energy experts tell us we're going to have a 15% increase in electricity demand during just the next five years,\" Taylor said. He warned that scheduled retirements of base-load plants, particularly coal units, could make it difficult to maintain reliable supply without dispatchable replacements.

Taylor described dispatchable resources as those \"available on demand\" and characterized current large-scale battery storage as limited to \"minutes or at most a few hours\" of support. \"If batteries were developed that could perform the functions that are desired and economically desirable, that would be something I would be all in favor of,\" he said. He also raised supply-chain concerns for some battery technologies, including dependence on cobalt and other minerals largely mined and refined outside the United States, and said mining practices in some countries have serious human-rights and environmental consequences.

Committee members questioned Taylor about technical and environmental tradeoffs. One member described the bill as potentially creating an \"unequal playing field\" for energy sources by dictating that only dispatchable resources could be used as replacements, and argued that such requirements could limit market-driven adoption of future technologies. The exchange included a procedural call to the question by a member seeking to move to a vote.

After debate, a motion to return the bill with a due-pass recommendation carried; the chair announced the committee had passed Senate Bill 1309 with a due-pass recommendation by a vote of 5 ayes, 4 nays and 1 absent.

The hearing record includes technical claims and studies offered by the witness (for example, the cited forecast of rising demand and a study Taylor referenced about consequences of a major blackout); those claims were presented as testimony and were not independently verified in the hearing.

Votes at a glance: Committee returned Senate Bill 1309 with a due-pass recommendation; announced roll-call totals were 5 ayes, 4 nays and 1 absent.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/11/2025 - House Natural Resources, Energy & Water","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 1309, which would require dispatchable replacements for retiring generation plants, passed the Senate committee with a due-pass recommendation after testimony and debate about reliability, battery storage capabilities and supply-chain issues.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Arizona, Arizona","taxId",78572,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6637810,"Committee advances bill requiring corporation commission grid-security reviews",79,531000,610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2578731-bd302e20a90e250408efb0a949788652&start=531&end=610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2578731-bd302e20a90e250408efb0a949788652/thumbnail_531000.jpg","/articles/6637810/Arizona/Committee-advances-bill-requiring-corporation-commission-grid-security-reviews","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637810-180d3af5d6049e87c0056fd1a7c1449a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775352612&Signature=jtoSL4ksNAg8i~cvNMOZtpl030WkRq3UsaY5zUv9Sy2TJcmbEeNA4aWIzG3AkbMTpGXi2InmcwcD~q2wmKEAUhwGZhCHVMKlfr1nG-MA0CQZZaBDWgz2eBpHjpeT0jeUFDvJXv6OBeJF2AtssfXvKk1KBgl8FcB6cPt~AZycwyVkCB8KZD~AIs2UZ7lpKjOq~tedmOdlZLFNK6Gi8ip-M1gQEDM36TlIhjWaU1E3w2gRHjviPIucQQkpmxDmYTqEo-0R-yP-VtqIP2aBdplL~whUuYmtRQm1HT5u2ocPYhxZNaunPWmvGe-wztb~r1nBx60r1vIqUk-uz6zj8twVqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 1501, which directs the Arizona Corporation Commission to conduct regular reviews of generation and grid-management technologies and evaluate protections against physical, cyber and electromagnetic threats, was returned with a due-pass recommendation by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water.

A staff presenter told the committee the bill requires the commission to assess generation and grid management technologies, review cybersecurity and grid protection protocols every two years, identify equipment and practices necessary to secure a continuous electricity supply, and encourage investor-owned utilities to address problems identified in the review.

No public witnesses spoke at the hearing on this bill and committee members recorded the motion to return the bill with a due-pass recommendation. The chair announced that the measure passed the committee with a due-pass recommendation following roll call; the announced tally was 5 ayes, 4 nays and 1 absent.

The bill as described would create a regular, statutory review process at the Arizona Corporation Commission to evaluate grid security measures and recommend actions for utilities and system operators to improve resilience and cybersecurity.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 1501 was returned with a due-pass recommendation; committee roll-call, as announced at the hearing, produced 5 ayes, 4 nays and 1 absent.","Senate Bill 1501 would require the Arizona Corporation Commission to conduct periodic reviews of generation and grid-management technologies, including protections against physical and cyber attacks and electromagnetic pulse threats; the committee gave the bill a due-pass recommendation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6637816,"Committee advances bill defining advocacy for residential utility consumers",132,363000,495000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2578731-bd302e20a90e250408efb0a949788652&start=363&end=495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2578731-bd302e20a90e250408efb0a949788652/thumbnail_363000.jpg","/articles/6637816/Arizona/Committee-advances-bill-defining-advocacy-for-residential-utility-consumers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637816-9457e67e08563f18a22e357fb73ef30f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775352612&Signature=FFlguG1K~RQWMSEISTGD5dc3aJJpOdp2CzLvxoYVE1ImDPmZHHVJvBVqqegxqoRQExEVBwWehQrGjt7~HZa0EyIyOgwBO7bGcWztfmyelQLlpowsLgXMzNnNs2HPNE1hP0O-w5pDCMZHlAU8h3Xt263TpUkjeWelAqAfEMcq66T1kjdtzX-93JO7eAXN0Pcn4G2a5K9y6lKfccno1on01BXjg-7sbhNRYnRZFBk7q7XmGGBKRFDvAm8GautBoUL4-KsFXxe64GY~lmd-KmLT5N57CXt-U0HKM-brh4u6POWy937j1G2hc9lqRaaapqpmQEnq81wzEkmIuphTziG9uQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 1119, described by the sponsor in committee testimony as defining \"represent the interests of\" to mean advocating on behalf of residential utility consumers, was returned with a due-pass recommendation by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water.

A committee staff member introduced the bill and said the measure \"defines, represent the interests of to mean advocating for the residential utility consumer office.\" The record shows no public witnesses and limited floor discussion during the hearing; one committee member asked to speak separately with the sponsor about how the change might affect the Residential Utility Consumer Office's ability to represent ratepayers.

The committee moved the bill and the chair recorded the roll call; the committee announced that Senate Bill 1119 passed the committee with a due-pass recommendation. The recorded roll call at the hearing produced the announced tally of 5 ayes, 4 nays and 1 absent.

The hearing record contains only a brief description of the bill's purpose as given by staff; the sponsor and staff offered to answer follow-up questions outside the hearing.

Votes at a glance: The committee returned Senate Bill 1119 with a due-pass recommendation; roll-call totals as announced at the hearing were 5 ayes, 4 nays, 1 absent.","Senate Bill 1119, which the sponsor described as defining the phrase \"represent the interests of\" for utility consumer advocacy, received a due-pass recommendation from the committee after limited discussion.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6637821,"Committee approves assessment to fund off-site emergency planning for Palo Verde",325,26000,351000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2578731-bd302e20a90e250408efb0a949788652&start=26&end=351","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2578731-bd302e20a90e250408efb0a949788652/thumbnail_26000.jpg","/articles/6637821/Arizona/Committee-approves-assessment-to-fund-off-site-emergency-planning-for-Palo-Verde","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637821-a4a6d45b9c0a6b9cda8bf4b10193df42/orig.mp4?Expires=1775352613&Signature=CIlczNG1-6eDSHTVcjxbSSOF~~EP80No5DkSTV97Z4~4wOtFAlcEeb7bEcD4c70T3GKrjB~kM~ajWMnCUaIWz748zTU6F4q~wnGVp4P73pFt3~xdcVYEy1kqKW3vx3UE8YjT2F4Sjwa-bgcB9Iav6KLe1S5F9SlR7PbhI0XqYxOsZ9TipoXGs1a-i-K3gkhoQJ2lzhHIfw9Y2562Q671tQL7URZO9OY7Qai3sFQ1PhzHuLbNosVz8sU73-fo4fuk4x8tkFR0ZIwWYKsjoc6ZycY-kSpBl1IciQ4ireimi2Ah6IGnquekOfnvgsewF9xD27MYWLBTkxVkd3FfP2JPRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 1009, which would levy a biennial assessment on owners and operators of commercial nuclear generating stations in Arizona to fund off-site emergency planning, passed the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water with a due-pass recommendation.

The bill appropriates $2,617,991 from the Nuclear Emergency Management Fund for fiscal year 2026 and $2,711,339 for fiscal year 2027 for distribution to the Division of Emergency Management within the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and to municipal and county agencies with responsibilities under the off-site response plan.

The measure funds planning, equipment, personnel, facilities, training and testing tied to off-site responses to a nuclear accident. \"Federal regulations require commercial nuclear power plants to have both on-site and off-site emergency response plans as a condition for obtaining and maintaining a license to operate the plant,\" said Hershel Fink, representing Arizona Public Service, the operator of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. \"Emergency planning for Palo Verde is a cooperative effort involving APS, the State of Arizona, Maricopa County, City of Buckeye, and other supporting agencies.\"

Travis Schulte, legislative liaison for the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, described DEMA as the lead coordinator for off-site emergency response and said the department recently conducted its biennial multiagency exercise that tests plans and response capabilities supported by the fund. \"DEMA has a lead responsibility to coordinate the off-site emergency response in the unlikely event of an emergency at the Palo Verde Generating Station with over 26 of our state, county, tribal, and local partners,\" Schulte said.

Committee members recorded the motion to return the bill with a due-pass recommendation and the committee roll call produced 8 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent; the chair announced that the bill passed with a due-pass recommendation.

The bill was described by staff to be an emergency measure that levies the assessment, with applicable interest, against the corporations involved in construction or operation of a commercial nuclear generating site in the state and deposits receipts into the Nuclear Emergency Management Fund.

If enacted, the statute would continue the existing biennial levy to support the off-site emergency response plan and related activities. The committee discussion included no amendment to the funding amounts presented during the hearing.

Votes at a glance: The committee voted to return Senate Bill 1009 with a due-pass recommendation. The committee's roll call, as read at the hearing, produced 8 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent.

Looking ahead, the bill will move to the full Senate for further consideration; the committee record shows the recommendation only and does not by itself enact the appropriations described in the bill.","The Arizona Senate committee endorsed Senate Bill 1009, a biennial assessment on owners/operators of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station that funds off-site emergency planning and exercises managed by the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and local partners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill requiring dispatchable replacements for retiring power plants amid debate

Committee advances bill requiring corporation commission grid-security reviews

Committee advances bill defining advocacy for residential utility consumers

Committee approves assessment to fund off-site emergency planning for Palo Verde