Arizona is ramping up its fight against climate change with a hefty injection of federal cash into the renewable energy sector. Senator Mark Kelly, alongside local luminaries, touted the state's green efforts, announcing that over $10 billion in investments have been funneled into Arizona's clean energy initiatives since 2021, a boon that's solar charging its economy and workforce.
"We are building and deploying solar panels, batteries, and other renewable energy technology that's going to help reduce emissions and slow climate change," Kelly confidently said outside Tucson's Solar Gain Inc., a manufacturer right in the thick of the state's solar revolution. These federal investments, according to the senator, have directly created upwards of 11,000 jobs. Senator Priya Sundareshan, in support, highlighted the historic nature of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) at the conference, as per an AZPM News report.
In tandem with these developments, Governor Katie Hobbs has set up the Arizona Office of Resiliarity (OOR), with Sundareshan noting that the OOR will soon distribute substantial funds in home energy rebates and Solar for All grants and loans, aiming to empower over 900,000 low-income households with solar energy.
However, leading the journey to a greener future doesn't come without its challenges. Andrew Wible of Solar Gain shared that navigating the complexities of the market, particularly around education and political gridlocks, can be tricky. "The wrong law, the wrong tariff, the wrong incentive can change everything," he told AZPM News. Despite the costs, which for an average Arizona household could hit the wallet for over $20,000, Wible believes the environmental and emotional returns are priceless.
Backing the idea that this is more than just an economic uptick, Ben Bryce from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Action pushed the view that these moves have the potential to cause "fundamental changes across the economy both today and into the future." As Arizona continues to shape its landscape with renewable resources, the hope is that its citizens will soon fully realize the fruits of these clean energy investments.
