Arizona Officials Rule Utilities Must Be Carbon-Free By 2050

Arizona utility regulators approved a plan for utilities to receive all their energy from carbon-free sources by 2050.

The plan approved Thursday with a 3-2 vote by the Arizona Corporation Commission calls for electric utilities to receive half their power from renewable sources such as solar and wind in 2035. The Arizona Republic reports that by 2050, they would need to supply all electricity using either renewables, carbon-free nuclear or energy-efficient methods such as subsidizing low-watt light bulbs or attic insulation. The plan also has interim requirements that electric utilities must cut carbon emissions in half by 2032 and by 75% by 2040.