Reliable, Affordable Power Matters to Women
We usually write on how we women (and men, too!) can fight the culture and political forces aimed at our kids and schools. This week we learned about another political force we often don’t think about as a potential threat against our homes, families or businesses. How fundamental to all we do and work protect every day, is the power behind the switch in your wall (and in your air conditioner!)? Whoever controls our electricity, controls a whole lot more!
We asked a friend who knows a lot about this critical battle for our freedoms to help us understand what’s at stake for us, and what we can DO to Take Action. Thank you, Kim Owens! ~ Kim
Have you ever thought about how often the concept of “reliability” factors in your day-to-day life? Those are the things we know we can count on to be there and help us to manage all that life throws at us—the surprises we manage to roll with, overcome, and sometimes avoid. So, what happens when “reliable” turns into “maybe” or “not at all”? What if it is the middle of the day, 118 in Phoenix, and there is a black-out…no electricity for hours or days? Reliability matters.
Right now, your voices and votes are needed to keep reliability at the center of how the Salt River Project determines how much your electricity and water will cost, how much you may use, and basically that when you need electricity, it will be there. Rain or shine.
Once every two years the land and homeowners in the SRP service territory have the right to vote on who makes these decisions. That time is now and every person who owns a home or land in the SRP district areas may vote. Please be aware that the Sierra Club is working overtime to capture as many seats as possible on the Salt River Project Board of Directors by running climate extremists committed to fulfill the Sierra Club agenda. Their hand-picked candidates are Casey Clowes, who says she is “a community organizer working to combat the climate crisis”, and Sandra Kennedy, a failed candidate in last year’s Corporation Commission election and campaigned around “sustainability”.
Because the Sierra Club is behind their candidacy and has established their “2030 Goals”, we know their plans and that reliability and cost do not matter to these candidates. It has suggested limiting how much power your home may use and called for the complete elimination of nuclear and all fossil fuels, relying solely on solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower. The Sierra Club 2030 Goals demand:
“…eliminate coal and gas in the power sector and achieve 80% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030; 60% of all new light-duty vehicles and 30% of all new heavy-duty vehicles will be electric, contributing to an 18% decrease in transportation sector oil use from 2019; and we will end the sale of gas appliances by 2030...” https://www.sierraclub.org/2030-strategic-framework
Think about what that means – to eliminate coal and gas and using only “pollution free” electricity refers to solar, wind, and hydroelectric exclusively. In a little over 5 years! No more coal, gas, or nuclear power. To do that would require replacing over 70% of the current SRP power sources. Who will pay for that? You will. And in more ways than your electric bill.
We’ve seen this play out. We all remember 2021, when Texas tried to lean too heavily into solar and wind, then a winter storm resulted in one of the worst power failures in recent history, leaving over 4.5 million homes and businesses without power – some for days – resulting in hundreds of deaths. Now imagine a hot Phoenix Summer, with days of temperatures in the 115-120 range. The simple truth is, there will not be sufficient power from solar or wind to provide the necessary electricity to cool our homes or businesses. The domino effect of devastation is obvious. Despite the facts, the climate crisis activists are pushing harder than ever, with millions of dollars behind campaigns to elect their chosen candidates.
Here’s where we can fight back. There are candidates committed to maintaining reliability, Lisa Atkins (District 11) and Victor Flores (District 13), who are running as At-Large candidates meaning everyone in the SRP voting areas may vote for these two candidates. Lisa and Victor need our support! They both have ample experience and understand the critical needs of families and business to maintain affordable and reliable power.
Simply put, this is a race to protect our families, our economy, and to prevent an extreme faction from taking over Arizona’s second largest utility to change the way we live, play, and do business. This small election could play an oversized role in how our state moves forward and what our lives will become. Please request a ballot and vote for Lisa Atkins and Victor Flores to maintain energy reliability and avoid the disaster that is inevitable with such unattainable concepts as those proposed by the Sierra Club and their hand-picked candidates.
Unlike most elections, because SRP is a non-profit, community-based power provider, the voting is based on land ownership, not individual registered voters. Each ballot represents the specific home or land parcel eligible to cast a vote, so only one ballot per household. Please check the map and if you live in one of the SRP voting districts, request an official Early Ballot by either calling the SRP Elections Information Line at (602) 236-3048 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or request your early ballot here.
The deadline to request an early ballot is Friday, March 22, 2024. In person voting will be held at the Voting Center at the SRP Administration Building, located at: 1500 N. Mill Ave. in Tempe, AZ 85288. The Voting Center will be open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 6 through April 1, 2024, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, April 2, 2024. Early Ballots may also be dropped off at this location during these times.
Do not delay – request your ballot today and please, cast it for Lisa Atkins and Victor Flores.
Thank you!
Kim Owens
Kim Owens is an Arizona native, a commissioner on the Arizona Power Authority and served on the Salt River Project Council representing ratepayers for ten years. She is currently a candidate for Arizona Republican National Committeewoman.