Mike Ahearn speaks the truth at ASU

Mike Ahearn, CEO of First Solar, pointed out the very true yesterday in a speech at ASU, that the attacks on the ACC's Renewable Energy Standard from the far right need to stop (he called the RES "embattled"), or we aren't going to see renewables companies invest in Arizona. Like any normal company, they won't take the risk. http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2009/03/27/20090327biz-firstsolar0327.html.
He noted the Goldwater Institute's lawsuit against the Corporation Commission over the RES, and a recent bill at the Arizona Legislature that would have counted nuclear power as renewable and stripped the Commission of authority over renewable energy in Arizona. The good news is we are fighting very hard against both, and I believe we will win, but such broadsides are never helpful when surrounding states are more than supportive of renewable energy.

Where will they build it?

Yesterday, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein signalled her dissatisfaction with the use of broad swaths of her state's desert for use by solar energy developers. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-desert25-2009mar25,0,6168582.story. There is no doubt that large-scale solar energy has a footprint, and Feinstein has a right to be concerned about where the solar dishes, towers and panels will go as California builds up its renewable energy market. Nevertheless, the move to block 800,000 acres in the Mojave desert has more than a few renewable energy advocates scratching their heads, wondering how California believes it can meet its soon to be 33 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard -- highest in the nation -- if it declares huge portions of desert exempt from large-scale solar projects. Of course, what is California's loss may be Arizona's gain, if all of that solar development winds up moving across the Colorado River.