Climate organizations warn federal cuts threaten clean energy jobs in Arizona

Climate action organizations and some Arizona lawmakers are raising concerns over Trump administration cuts to federal clean energy spending.

During a press conference Tuesday at the state Capitol, Jose Flores with the group Poder Latinx said Arizona has become a leader in clean energy industries such as solar panel manufacturing and battery development. He said growth has been driven in part by federal investments through the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, but some of that money is now frozen or canceled.

“No doubt the IRA has meant progress, better quality of life, and opportunities for Arizonans, but this administration’s actions put these and future clean energy projects in peril,” Flores said.

Flores noted plans were recently scrapped for a $1.2 billion battery plant that would have brought 3,000 jobs to Buckeye, because the company, Kore Power, was not certain it would receive a federal loan to help to fund its construction.

Programs to help Arizona households with energy costs are also in limbo amid federal spending freezes and layoffs, said Democratic state Rep. Mariana Sandoval.

For example, the entire staff that administers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program has been laid off.

“Families who rely on federal energy assistance – more than 630,000 across Arizona – are now at risk of losing support to keep their homes heated in winter and cool in the brutal summer months,” Sandoval said.