With tons of sunshine and some pretty solid incentives (notably those available from APS, RPS and UES), Arizona is a great place to install a solar energy system for a home or business. By the looks of it, AZ lawmakers are aiming to make the state a great place for solar energy companies to locate their operations, too. As reported by the Yuma Sun,

A bill sponsored by Sen. Barbara Leff of the Phoenix area and currently in the Senate is designed to add incentives for renewable energy producers, such as companies that produce solar energy, to come to Arizona.

Julie Engel, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp., which helped provide research for the bill, said she hopes the legislators act now – before they’ve “missed the boat” – because companies are quickly choosing to locate in other states, such as Oregon and New Mexico, that already have great incentives in place.

“This is the right time to do this. We don’t want to lose the opportunity to bring companies right now that are looking at different states,” said state Sen. Amanda Aguirre of Yuma, who said she supports the bill.

State Rep. Lynne Pancrazi of Yuma said she’ll also support the bill if and when it makes its way to the House. She agrees the Legislature needs to act now, before Arizona loses more business to rival states.

With the economy tanking, it makes sense that the likes of Oregon, Texas, Tennessee, New Mexico and others are tryinig to attract investment — especially in a sector, like solar and other renewables, that has incredible long-term growth potential. When that investement will be forthcoming is anyone’s guess. But let’s hope these states can get pro-solar legislation in place so that when growth does return to the economy, the firms can hit the ground running with new jobs and infrastructure.

Here’s the Yuma Sun article again:

Language in the bill provides that companies pay workers at least 125 percent of the state’s median wage, according to a study by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, which means bringing companies to Arizona won’t just create jobs – it will create good-paying jobs.

The companies that come to Arizona will get incentives such as property tax credits and income tax credits, that Engel said are competitive with states such as Oregon and New Mexico.