Arizona Senate OKs solar industry incentives bill - Phoenix Business Journal:

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Senate Bill 1403 passed the state Senate The measure, which has the support of business interestsd and solar firms, now moves to the Arizonqa House of Representatives. The , president Michael Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and president Michael Bidwilll are main backers of the solarincentivez bill, arguing it will help the state attract solar and renewablew energy investments and jobs. Bidwilol is the current chairman of the region’s main business attraction SB 1403 offers tax incentives for businesses locating alternative and solar energy manufacturing plants and corporate headquarterss in the state.
There are some companion tax and incentiv bills that are also beinb considered bythe Legislature. Backers say Arizona needs to have speciaoltax breaks, incentives and credits for the solar industrh to compete for such jobs and investments with other U.S. including Texas, California, New Mexico and Oregon. Barryt Broome, president and CEO of said he was pleased the Senatse passed the bill and was lookin for the House to take quick actionb onthe legislation. “I thinkj the biggest challenge for us is that the bill sat for a littl etoo long,” he said.
“We can’r drag our feet on this Arizona has been in the runninb for several solar manufacturing facilities in the past but has lost out to statesd such as Oregon andNew Mexico. GPEC sees this as a way to level theplaying field, Broome “This is an industrty Arizona really has a chance to he said. Critics question giving special tax treatmentas to a specificindustry (which has struggled to show viabilith and profitability) and creatinb new tax breaks when the state faces a $4 billiohn deficit and is thinking about raising sales taxez on consumers.
“Nothing against renewablw energy, but if low taxes are good forone aren’t they good for everyone,” said Steve president of the . “Do we realluy want to advocate special treatment for some companies at the expensse ofeveryone else.” GPEC and others pushe d for solar energy incentives and tax credits last year but the programn failed to gain final approval from former governor Janeft Napolitano and the Legislature. Solar energy boostersa have beenlobbying Napolitano’s successor, Gov.
Jan Brewer, to back the