Karla Trippe
At the May meeting of the SaddleBrooke Democratic Club (SBDC) Ylenia Aguilar, Joshua Polacheck, and Jonathon Hill, candidates for the Arizona Corporation Commission, spoke to the club about the commission’s vital role in setting utility rates and making Arizona’s energy infrastructure more efficient and less dependent on fossil fuels.
Aguilar noted her experience in public service, including many years on the board of the Central Arizona Project (CAP), which is responsible for maintaining the system and distributing water from the Colorado River. The commission oversees small water distribution systems throughout the state.
Polacheck explained how the state is failing to take advantage of solar power. The present board has added policies that discourage solar energy on rooftops. The Democratic candidates would fight for lower rates and net metering, making solar economically advantageous for most Arizona residents. With this approach, Arizona could become an exporter of energy instead of an importer.
Hill spoke about his engineering background, including his work for NASA. He emphasized the need for technical expertise on the commission. Many of the commission’s decisions depend on technical engineering data, and in the past, the commission has primarily relied on the data analysis provided by corporations seeking increased rates.
The new SBDC website has information on the candidates. To learn more, visit www.saddlebrookedemocrats.org/home-2.
The SBDC’s next meeting was on June 11 at 3:30 p.m. at the SaddleBrooke One Activity Center. The speaker was Patrick Melvin who is running for Sheriff in Pinal County. The club sold “Stand Up for Freedom” T-shirts and pins at the meeting.