Navigating Arizona CEC Process, Hearings & Compliance

This session will provide attendees with the Chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission’s perspective on Arizona’s CEC process and the role of the ACC. The Chairman will discuss the purpose of the CEC process, the factors the ACC considers, recent statutory and policy changes, emerging challenges for CEC applicants, the relationship between the ACC and the Arizona Power Plant & Transmission Line Siting Committee, and recommendations for CEC applicants. The session will conclude with an opportunity for attendees to pose questions to the Chairman.

This session will review the requirements and optional components to file an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility in Arizona. Discussion will review the application exhibits and components and how to best position an application for successful review and approval.

This session will contain two separate presentations that both relate to coordinating with agencies. See below for their respective presentation details.

Effective Coordination with the Arizona Game and Fish Department: Guidance for Project Proponents

As stated in ARS § 40-360.06, “Fish, wildlife, and plant life and associated forms of life upon which they are dependent” are included as factors that the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee must consider when evaluating applications for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC). Coordination with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) helps project proponents identify potential impacts to wildlife and their habitats, as well as develop conservation measures and design features to avoid or minimize these impacts. This session will provide guidance for coordinating with the AZGFD throughout the CEC process, including the information needed to support a thorough project review, factors the AZGFD considers while evaluating a project, and strategies to facilitate timely and efficient coordination.

Jessica Potter, Energy Lead for the Project Evaluation Program, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Navigating SHPO Consultation: Cultural Resource Review for CEC Approval

Securing a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) requires seamless regulatory navigation, and cultural resource management is a critical piece of the puzzle. This session intends to serve as a practical guide on integrating historic preservation into your project development and hearing preparation. This session will explore when to initiate early coordination, what specific information and data agencies expect during a review, and how to navigate common delays and overlapping agency recommendations. Attendees will walk away with communication best practices for efficient dialogue with SHPO staff, ensuring you can proactively manage compliance risks, avoid costly bottlenecks, and build a smoother path to your CEC hearing.

This interactive session will take attendees inside the CEC hearing process through a practical-witness preparation and mock hearing exercise. Using a fictional project scenario, the Holland & Hart team will demonstrate how applicants can prepare witnesses, present a persuasive evidentiary record, respond effectively to Committee questions, address public opposition, and avoid common procedural and credibility missteps. Rather than simply describing how a CEC hearing works, this session will show what strong and weak hearing moments look like in practice, including how project conflicts, difficult questions, and real-time strategic decisions can shape the outcome. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to prepare witnesses, anticipate hearing dynamics, and build a record that supports successful project approval.

This session will walk through a real Arizona project (to be announced soon) that successfully navigated the CEC process. Discussion points will cover what worked well, how challenges were addressed and what lessons can be applied to future projects.

This session will discuss case studies for when a CEC amendment is needed, the available processes to amend a CEC and examples of the methods being used to raise compliance challenges as well as exploring some creative solutions.

Arizona’s electric infrastructure landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, bringing new legal, regulatory, and technical challenges to Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) proceedings before the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee. This session will examine the evolving framework and trends governing transmission and power plant siting and the practical implications for applicants, intervenors, regulators, and counsel.

Whether you’re navigating your first CEC application or refining your approach for future projects, this open format panel is your opportunity to explore how the Committee weighs decisions, how environmental considerations are integrated, and what makes a siting case strong. Come ready to ask questions, share experiences, and gain insights into the line siting landscape in Arizona.