EnviroMission Solar Tower Fits Arizona Bill

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 5, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- EnviroMission's Solar Tower technology fits the bill of new rules to promote renewable energy, including solar power, in the State of Arizona.

Rules drafted by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) and approved by Arizona Attorney General, Terry Goddard, October 20, 2010, took immediate effect.

The ACC rules now require utilities in Arizona to provide an Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) for an open and comprehensive resource planning process that now requires all types of future power plant resources to be 'fairly considered' providing renewable energy with a more level playing field with fossil fuel generators.

Under the rules utilities will be required to quantify and consider environmental costs associated with using various fuel resources, including water; factors not always taken into account in the power station approval process.

Less than one percent of Arizona's electricity is currently generated form solar power.  

Power station viability has tended to be considered in terms of economic viability to favor developments that benefit from previously commercialised technology, regardless of environmental drawbacks.  These rules will now factor in aspects that are expected to promote the use of cleaner renewable energy resources in Arizona.

"Arizona's new rules will favorably benefit EnviroMission's Solar Tower 'pipeline development' plans and prospects in Arizona because the environmental benefits of clean waterless solar powered electricity will be advantaged for meeting the States IRP rules.

"Arizona's push to create a level playing field in energy utility planning will support solar entrants, including EnviroMission.

"The fair consideration objective of the rules will now place pressure on fossil fuel generators to cost fuel stock, including water, for the first time" said EnviroMission's Chief Executive Roger Davey.

The rules are intended to attract more solar energy jobs to Arizona and jumpstart the State's 'in-state' solar energy industry.

The Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA)[1] recently approved a landmark Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to buy green electricity from EnviroMission's first Solar Tower planned for development in Arizona; the ACC rule changes are expected to positively impact Solar Tower development in Arizona.

Arizona currently gets 49% of its electricity from coal, 29% from natural gas, 17% from nuclear and 5% from hydro, less than one percent of Arizona's electricity currently comes from solar.

EnviroMission's 100% owned US subsidiary, EnviroMission (USA), Inc is based in Phoenix, Arizona with plans to develop two Solar Tower power stations in the State's North West.

Two land applications for Solar Tower development are filed with the Arizona State Land Department.

Ends.

[1] - SCPPA is a California joint power authority consisting of eleven municipal utilities and one irrigation district. Its members deliver electricity to approximately two million metered accounts over 7,000 square miles to a population of nearly five million people.

SOURCE EnviroMission