Statement by Kevin Moran, Associate Vice President, Regional Affairs at EDF Action
(PHOENIX – January 13, 2026) As energy demand and costs rise in Arizona, a new bill introduced today would functionally ban new wind, solar, and other renewable energy projects in the state if passed.
State Rep. David Marshall’s HB2267 weaponizes existing law by classifying utility-scale wind and solar farms built within four miles of residential property as public nuisances. This bill would completely undermine the ability for private property owners to earn any income from leasing land to renewable energy structures, a growing source of revenue for farmers and landowners across the country. Even more harmful is that the bill would keep a massive potential energy supply completely off-line as Arizona’s economy continues to grow in the technology sector.
“Blocking clean energy that’s affordable and fast to deploy makes no sense at a time when Arizonans are facing skyrocketing electricity bills,” said Kevin Moran, Associate Vice President, Regional Affairs at EDF Action.
“Wind and solar power have vast potential in Arizona, but this extreme bill would slam the door on all of the economic benefits they can bring. For households and businesses, wind and solar energy, combined with battery storage, offer proven ways to get clean, reliable power online to help meet our state’s surging energy needs and keep costs down. For landowners, wind and solar energy offers a critical source of income to those who choose to lease some of their land to renewable projects.
“Most Arizonans support building more wind and solar. State leaders should listen by cutting red tape – not piling it on – so clean energy can keep electricity costs down and power Arizona’s growing economy well into the future.”
Background:
- A statewide survey last fall found that nearly two-thirds of Arizonans support building more wind and solar and the majority oppose new restrictions on clean energy. The survey also found that Arizonans rank the cost of living as the top issue the state government should address, with around 1 in 4 specifically worried about electricity costs.
- Arizona Public Service is asking state regulators to approve a 14% rate increase – about $20 per month – to pay for rising electricity demand. Tucson Electric Power is also seeking a 14% increase, which it says would add about $16 per month.
- Arizona utilities estimate significant electricity needs over the next 15 years, largely due to the construction of data centers, with some utilities projecting a 40% increase in peak demand. In August 2024, the state’s largest electric utility provider, Arizona Public Service (APS), saw its highest demand ever, at 8,212 megawatts. If every new proposed data center comes online, the electricity demand would be 19,000 megawatts. “We do not have the energy and transmission infrastructure to support the amount of energy that’s being requested of us,” said Patrick Bogle of APS.
- Arizona is among the top five states with the best wind energy potential, according to the Energy Information Administration. The state already ranks within the top five states for solar energy production.
- This bill would give Arizona’s public utilities commission (ACC) functional veto power over new renewable energy projects. Rep. Marshall is running for a seat on the ACC this fall, and the bill will functionally give him and allies the power to veto clean energy projects, no matter how beneficial those projects would be to ratepayers across Arizona.