Governor signs more solar bills (BizJournals)

[paul]

Two more bills to push demand for solar and renewable energy in Arizona were signed by Gov. Jan Brewer over the weekend.

House Bill 2332 will allow school districts greater flexibility in making renewable energy sources part of buying power, while HB2336 will create renewable energy infill zones giving cities and counties authority to create special incentives and taxing districts that could be applied to renewable energy production.

The infill district legislation is similar to laws in other states. It allows residents and businesses in those areas to pay for installing renewable energy through property taxes and bonds.

On Friday, Brewer signed SB1403, which provided incentives for manufacturers of renewable energy to locate in Arizona. The Greater Phoenix Economic Council, along with several other business groups, backed the measure. GPEC officials this week are meeting with up to 25 solar companies at the Intersolar conference in San Francisco.

While incentives are a key to boosting the state’s solar industry, officials in that sector also said increased demand from the community will further propel the industry.