The Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court challenging Arizona regulators’ decision to allow UNS Electric to expand its gas-fired Black Mountain Generating Station without obtaining a certificate of environmental compatibility for its 200-MW expansion. The Arizona Corporation Commission voted in June to authorize the expansion, stating that each of the individual planned units are under 100 MW and the commission does not have mandatory jurisdiction as state law requires a certificate for additions of 100 MW or more. The Sierra Club argues that this decision would exempt most large gas-based power plants from environmental review due to their smaller units. The decision overturns the existing environmental review process for gas plants and sets a dangerous precedent, according to Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter Director Sandy Bahr.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
