Arizona Cardinals President Backs Solar Energy Initiative

Arizona Cardinals president and chairman of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Michael Bidwill, is backing business tax breaks to attract solar energy suppliers to the state in an effort to help the state's damaged economy.

As reported by Mike Sunnucks of the Phoenix Business Journal, Bidwill is pushing the Arizona Legislature and Governor Jan Brewer for tax breaks that will attract solar investments and jobs to the state.

Supporters of the tax incentive say that there are billions of dollars in potential foreign and U.S. energy firms that Arizona could miss out on. States such as Oregon, New Mexico, and Texas already have such incentives in place.

The state of Arizona is also dealing with a $3 billion deficit for the coming year and is already dealing with a $2 billion deficit this year—prompting cuts in state-run universities, K-12 schools, and social security services.

Gov. Brewer is also promoting a $1 billion temporary sales tax before voters to help with the deficit the state is faced with.

The backing of this solar energy tax break by Bidwill not only comes after a Cardinals run to the Super Bowl, but also at a time when the state wants to see a winner on the field and in the offices of power.

The Bidwill family has kept a low-profile in Arizona ever since the 1988 move of the Cardinals from St. Louis to Arizona. The endorsement by the family might not only persuade voters to vote for the tax break to bring jobs to the state, but also show the desire for the Bidwill family to be a part of the state-wide community that is now backing a winning football team.