Arizona became the first state in the nation yesterday to require utilities to produce a small portion of their electricity from solar sources. The Arizona Corporation Commission unanimously approved a requirement that utilities generate at least 0.2 percent of their power from renewable sources next year, and at least 50 percent of that from solar sources. The renewables target will gradually increase to 1.1 percent by 2007 as long as the cost of renewable energy declines to a level the commission considers reasonable. To pay for the changes, utilities will be able to raise rates only slightly — homeowners and renters could pay up to 35 cents more a month, and most businesses could pay up to $13 more.
