Mayor and council direct staff to negotiate 100% renewable power purchase agreement with TEP, advance resiliency work at Donna Ligon Center

Mayor and the Tucson City Council voted March 4 to direct the city manager and city attorney to negotiate several agreements with Tucson Electric Power (TEP) following an executive session, including a power purchase agreement that would commit TEP "at a minimum" to provide 100% of the electric power supplied to the city — as a customer — from renewable sources.

The action came after the council returned from executive session and Mayor Regina Romero asked for a motion to authorize next steps. City Manager Mike Rankin asked the council to direct staff to "bring forward to the mayor and council a power purchase agreement with TEP under which TEP, at a minimum, will commit to providing 100% of the electric power supplied by TEP to the city from renewable sources," to negotiate an agreement for essential infrastructure for an energy resiliency project at the Donna Ligon Center, to engage with TEP on the city’s Resilient Together climate action and adaptation plan, and to "move forward with public engagement relating to TEP’s request for a new franchise agreement with a tentative election in November 2025."

The council discussed and accepted an amendment proposed by Council Member Ullick to insert the phrase "at a minimum" into the renewable-power bullet to preserve flexibility for securing an even larger renewable supply. The motion and amendment were moved and seconded and later approved; the council signaled support by voice vote.

Why it matters: The motions ask staff to convert executive-session discussions into public proposals for council consideration. The power purchase agreement would apply to the city’s own electricity purchases as a customer, not to electricity supplied by TEP to all Tucson residents. The public-engagement step also signals council intent to connect negotiations around a new TEP franchise with community outreach and a potential November 2025 election.

Council members and staff emphasized that the agreements are subject to future council review. The motion does not automatically execute any contracts; it directs staff to negotiate and return proposed agreements for formal council action.

What was decided and what’s next: The council approved the directions to staff. City staff will bring proposed agreements and public-engagement plans back to the mayor and council for formal consideration and potential adoption. The council also requested that the renewable commitment language read "at a minimum" 100% to allow for future improvements.

The vote: The motion to direct staff as described carried by voice vote; no formal roll-call names for mover or seconder were recorded in the transcript. The text of the motion and subsequent amendment appear in the meeting record and will be part of the materials when staff returns with proposed agreements.

Context: The action follows an executive session held, per the record, under Arizona statute related to franchise negotiations. The council’s direction does not change TEP’s service to Tucson residents; it asks staff to pursue agreements limited to the city’s accounts and to bring proposals back for public consideration.