Tucson solar advocate Lesley Lillywhite delivered more than 3,100 “Protect solar energy” petition signatures to Gov. Jan Brewer’s office today.
The petition, which she started on MoveOn.org earlier this month, urges the governor to stop a solar property tax the Arizona Department of Revenue will assess next year on leased and financed systems.
“I do not think there should be a tax on solar,” said Lillywhite, a fourth-generation Arizonan and former rooftop solar user who is considering solar at her new home. “It’s funny to even consider taxing the sun. This will turn people against solar.”
Lillywhite, an astrologer, astronomer and screenwriter assistant, wants to show Arizonans are concerned about the environment, support solar and green energy options and are against the Koch brothers “meddling” with state issues.
The Koch family owns Koch Industries, the second largest privately owned company in the U.S. The billionaire brothers typically lobby against climate change legislation, and Lillywhite said their “agenda is to quash solar development.”
“In a state like Arizona, we should be promoting solar,” Lillywhite said. “I’d like to call attention to Gov. Brewer to promote solar. I mistrust that she really opts to promote that.”
Hundreds rallied against the tax at the State Capitol earlier this month, including solar installers and members of TUSK, Tell Utilities Solar Won’t Be Killed.
Based on DOR research and an interpretation of the state law last year, the department issued a memo describing how certain renewable energy systems needed to be valued for property tax purposes under Arizona’s personal property tax. Some taxpayers were reporting value on their solar systems, while others were not, said Sean Laux, an Arizona Department of Revenue spokesman.
Hayley Ringle covers technology and startups for the Phoenix Business Journal.
"Protect solar energy" petition delivered to Gov. Jan Brewer"s office today
