The benefits of renewable energy are obvious, but the impact of Prop 127 is less so. The Grand Canyon Institute, an independent, non-partisan research/education think tank, analyzed many studies on the subject and finds them inconclusive.

The proponents, Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, cite a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council stating Prop 127 would save Arizona $4 billion in electricity costs and lower bills by about 3 percent.

Opponents claim it would raise average utility bills by at least $1,000 per year, according to Arizonans for Affordable Electricity. AAF cites studies by RUCO and Seidman Research Institute as the source of this conclusion. Interestingly, these studies were paid for by APS/Pinnacle West and used data provided by APS! APS also vaguely cited “financial analysts” but didn’t specify who they were or what they found.

GCI has found “Claims that electric bills will rise an exorbitant amount insufficiently substantiated. APS and the No Campaign have focused on using fear as a motivator and used high-end unlikely cost estimates and purposely chose to compare them to today’s bills, without adjusting for inflation or what bills would be under an APS business as usual scenario.” GCI does not have a position or stake in Prop 127.

So, let’s have a closer look at AAF. It’s a PAC formed to oppose Prop 127. The vast majority of their contributions (over $11 million so far) come from APS/Pinnacle West! AAF also contends that Prop 127 will force the closure of the Palo Verde Generating Station, another false claim. APS/Pinnacle West will not and cannot unilaterally close it. They own less than 30 percent of the plant; the remaining 70 percent is owned by other companies.

Clearly the foxes (AAF/APS/Pinnacle West) have conspired to guard the hen house. Vote yes on Proposition 127.