Phoenix SRP election becomes flashpoint over energy

Eligible voters across metro Phoenix are set to decide the future control of the Salt River Project (SRP) on April 7, a race that will significantly influence Arizona's energy and water policies. This typically low-turnout election has escalated into a multimillion-dollar contest, attracting substantial outside involvement, particularly from Turning Point Action, a conservative activist organization. The election features two main slates of candidates. The Clean Energy Slate, led by former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Sandra Kennedy, advocates for rapid renewable energy expansion, consumer protection, and ensuring data centers pay their "fair share" of infrastructure costs, alongside protecting water resources. In contrast, the Affordable Reliable Rate Team, supported by Turning Point Action and including Chris Dobson and Barry Paceley, emphasizes a balanced approach to energy that prioritizes affordability and reliability, viewing natural gas as a bridge fuel and supporting existing SRP policies that require large users, including data centers, to cover 100% of their mitigation costs for new infrastructure. Beyond debates on clean energy versus affordable rates, the winning board will make concrete decisions on allocating Arizona's dwindling Colorado River water supplies and determining the financial responsibility of expanding data centers, which are significant consumers of both power and water. The election is seen as consequential beyond Phoenix, with both sides highlighting the broader implications for the state's future environmental and economic landscape.