Tucson protesters urge no vote on Prop. 421 and TEP deal
Protesters in Tucson urged voters to reject Proposition 421, which would renew Tucson Electric Power's 25-year franchise agreement and related energy collaboration deal with the city. They linked TEP's utility practices to the proposed Project Blue data center, while Attorney General Kris Mayes has sued to force a rehearing of the Arizona Corporation Commission's approval of the facility's energy service agreement.
Protesters marched to Tucson Electric Power's downtown Tucson office ahead of the Nov. 3 election, urging a no vote on Proposition 421. The measure would renew TEP's 25-year franchise agreement with the city and authorize a related energy collaboration agreement providing funding for infrastructure and sustainability projects.
The demonstrators advocated for public power, citing concerns about rates, outages and TEP's environmental policies. They also connected the utility to Project Blue, a proposed data center whose 10-year energy service agreement with TEP was approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has sued to require the commission to reconsider that approval, while TEP maintains that Prop. 421 would not increase customer rates and is needed to preserve efficient access to city rights-of-way.