Trial begins over renewable energy proposal in Arizona

By Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) - Hundreds of witnesses were called to the courthouse in downtown Phoenix for a trial over whether a proposal requiring the use of more clean energy in Arizona should be barred from appearing on the November ballot.

Most of the witnesses had gathered signatures from voters on behalf of the campaign to put the Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona proposal on the ballot.

The trial began Monday with an unknown number of signature petitions being thrown out because the people who gathered them had felony convictions and couldn't prove that their civil rights had been restored.

Arizona law bars signature gatherers from having felony convictions.

The proposal would require half the state's energy to come from renewable sources by 2030, compared to the current mandate of 15 percent by 2025.