One sole person donated to a Tom Steyer-backed initiative that aims to increase Arizona’s renewable energy portfolio, showcasing what critics say is a lack of support for the measure.
Only one person donated money to Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, an initiative that wants to force more renewables into Arizona’s energy mix, according to a campaign finance report from the period of July 1 to Aug. 11. The contributor, a resident of Phoenix, gave a donation of $4.88 on July 23.
The meager contribution, however, does not mean Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona is strapped for cash. The group received help from one other benefactor during that same reporting period: a $3.8 million donation from NextGen Climate Action, an environmental organization founded and funded by Steyer. This brings NextGen’s total campaign contributions to Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona well over $8 million. (RELATED: Finance Reports Reveal Tom Steyer Completely Bankrolled A Clean Energy Campaign In Arizona)
“California billionaire Tom Steyer will spare no expense in his shameless bid to buy this election and force his costly, California-style energy regulations down the throats of Arizona families,” Matthew Benson, spokesman with Arizonans for Affordable Electricity, said in a statement obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Arizonans for Affordable Electricity — a group initiated by the state’s largest electric utility — opposes the renewable energy proposal, now known as Proposition 127.
“Steyer can spend all the money he wants, but he can’t convince Arizona voters that doubling their electricity bills is a good thing. Our coalition of community leaders, business groups, taxpayer advocates, and champions of the working poor grows daily because Arizonans recognize the threat Prop 127 poses to our way of life,” Benson went on.
The fight over whether to mandate more solar and wind power has entered the courtroom. The Arizona Secretary of State’s office determined Clean Energy for Healthy Arizona obtained enough signatures to make it on the November ballot. However, Arizonans for Affordable Electricity is challenging this finding in court, pointing out that internal documents within the clean energy group indicate that they didn’t obtain enough valid signatures to qualify. A separate investigation by Benson’s group also found the initiative failing to obtain enough valid signatures. (RELATED: Tom Steyer-Backed Initiative Makes Ballot, But Accusations Of Foul Play Remain)
If the initiative goes to the ballot box — and wins — Arizona’s renewable portfolio standard would be forced to increase to 50 percent by 2030.
Proposition 127 closely resembles what is already law is already law in Steyer’s home state. In California, electric utilities are also expected to reach a 50 percent renewable standard by 2030.
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