Arizona GOP Leaders Face Primary Challenges Over Energy Policies
Two Republican members of the Arizona Corporation Commission, including former Mesa city councilman Kevin Thompson, are facing primary challenges from state legislators who claim they are not supporting former President Trump’s energy agenda. At a recent press conference, Rep. David Marshall and Rep. Ralph Heap asserted their commitment to fossil fuels, criticizing the commission’s opposition to reopening the Cholla coal plant in Navajo County.
Thompson, who chairs the commission, defended the decision to keep Cholla shuttered, citing legal barriers under the Clean Air Act and the need for a $1.9 billion investment to resume operations. Heap dismissed these financial concerns, questioning the commission’s earlier reliance on renewable energy standards, asserting a strong need for a "course correction."
The situation has intensified as state Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, has been actively recruiting challengers to promote candidates aligned with conservative values. Thompson criticized Hoffman’s ambitions for a "Freedom Caucus" monopoly over Arizona’s statewide offices.
As the election looms, candidates must navigate complexities surrounding utility regulation, energy policies, and internal party dynamics, with the future of Arizona’s energy landscape in the balance.
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