Clean Energy Parks For AZ's Energy Needs
Mr. Tobin is working with Representative Warde Nichols (R-Gilbert) to develop legislation that supports Arizona’s energy needs now and in the future through the creation of new, clean energy parks that may represent nuclear, wind, solar and other environmentally safe and efficient systems.
“We need to get government bureaucracy out of the way with respect to getting these business ventures started and assure the safety and efficiency for the next generations of Arizonans. We need jobs and investment today, and building our future for tomorrow”.
Arizona could find itself unable to meet current energy needs in addition to the needs of future growth in the state if Arizona does not act quickly. Currently, Arizona relies heavily upon coal burning energy factories on Native American reservations for Arizona’s base load energy needs. Newly proposed EPA regulations, if enacted, could lead to significant cost increases that will more than likely stem output and substantially lessen Arizona’s ability to meet current demands and future growth.
Rep. Tobin and Rep. Nichols seek to coordinate legislation that will develop energy for use and export while working with rural municipalities to help provide funding resources to develop a water grid for augmenting and transporting our water supply and protecting our rivers.
Additionally, by supporting new clean energy parks, Arizona can address multiple issues simultaneously including: job creation, future energy growth and more affordable energy. Such an approach can also include both a rural and urban component dealing with a water transportation grid.
“It’s critical that we support our current infrastructure and support clean energy parks that are environmentally friendly and efficient, Majority Whip Andy Tobin said. “We need both components to meet our current base load needs and also to provide for future growth. Arizona has the potential of becoming an exporter of power to other states. If we do nothing, instead of exporting energy to other states, Arizona will be forced to import energy (along with the associated costs) from neighboring states.”
As one example, the town of Clarkdale currently stands at the end of their planning process for a local clean energy park which includes energy production, water treatment, civic and nature facilities, which will make them self-sufficient and perhaps improve their revenue stream through the exportation of energy.
Rep. Tobin - "Restore Funding to State Parks"
This past weekend news broke about the state parks’ plan to layoff 30 employees and reduce park hours of operation. Few know about the behind the scenes work being done by Majority Whip Andy Tobin (R-Paulden) to restore funding to the state park system through utilization of the Growing Smarter fund.
“The economic downturn has virtually eliminated growth demands near urban areas,” Tobin explained. “Transferring $20 million from the Conservation Fund in FY10 and 11, while also expanding the lifetime of the fund from 2011 to 2013 ensures Conservation funding will be restored,” he added. “We want to use the money from the fund to ensure the economic contribution of the state parks to Arizona continues.”
According to the Paulden Republican, Rep. Warde Nichols sponsored HB2088 this past Regular Session and had it passed with the required three-fourths vote the measure would have transferred $20 million from the FY09 Conservation Fund to offset land use budget reductions, reversions and suspensions. HB2088 sought to change Proposition 105, the Growing Smarter Act, which provides grants to conserve open spaces in high growth areas.
“I believe this is an excellent use for the Land Conservation Fund since the downturn in the economy has significantly slowed city growth patterns across the state, while the fund has continued to expand by $20 million a year,” Tobin said. “This bill extends the Land Conservation Fund by an additional year and the money we take this year will be restored in 2013.”
Last week Rep. Tobin sent a letter to Arizona mayors, city council members, county supervisors, state department heads, the Governor and stakeholders urging them to contact Legislators who opposed HB2088 last February. The state parks funding restoration issue will be revisited and Rep. Tobin hopes pressure from stakeholders will garner the necessary three-quarter votes to utilize the Growing Smarter funds for state parks.
Arizona State Parks are an extremely valuable attraction for visitors and citizens. Approximately 2.2 million people visit our parks each year and direct spending by those visitors surpasses $160 million each year. Annually, state parks generate $266 million in revenue for Arizona. Rep. Tobin wants to see Prop 105 changed temporarily to allow Growing Smarter dollars to go to state parks this year.
Exploring the Great Indoors
The Land Conservation Fund was approved by voters in 1998 to help prevent urban sprawl. Since the economic downturn has essentially frozen construction, the $70 million in the Land Conservation Fund currently has no use.
A three-quarters vote was needed to pass the measure and keep parks open, however only two rural Democrats joined the Republicans to support the measure. Unfortunately, this kind of partisan approach to common-sense measures has been the norm for House Democrats all session.
So this summer, leave the sleeping bags in storage and thank your nearest Democrat for voting to cancel your family’s summer camping trip.