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Panel advances bill to bring non‑thermal energy sources under line‑siting statute
Summary
Lawmakers voted to pass Senate Bill 15‑38, updating Arizona law to include non‑thermal large‑scale generators (solar, wind, batteries) in line‑siting review and raising the nameplate threshold from 100 MW to 200 MW; supporters argued the change modernizes a 1971 statute, opponents warned it would add cost and delay to renewable projects.
Senate Bill 15‑38 cleared committee after a drawn-out exchange between the sponsor, industry witnesses and skeptical members.
Sponsor Senator Frank Carroll said the bill updates an older statute so that non‑thermal generators such as utility‑scale solar, wind and battery storage are treated the same as thermal plants in line‑siting reviews before the Arizona Corporation Commission. "It levels the playing field," Carroll said, adding that the law simply reflects technological changes since 1971.
Opponents including Stan Barnes of the Inner West Energy Alliance and Cort Rich of Rose Law Group testified the measure would re‑impose costly regulatory hoops for projects that had been exempted or streamlined in recent sessions, increasing delays, financing costs and energy prices. "This bill would add regulation, cost and slow down the development of any energy," Rich said.
Sponsor and supporters countered that the change ensures parity between technologies and does not remove local zoning authority. After debate and public testimony, the committee returned SB 15‑38 with a do‑pass recommendation; roll call recorded 6 ayes and 4 nays.
Next steps: The bill advances from committee to the House calendar. Supporters said they will continue to emphasize that the measure is intended to equalize statutory treatment of different generation technologies rather than pick "winners and losers."
