Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and the Director of the Governor’s new Office of Resiliency Maren Mahoney joined Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and clean energy experts and business leaders highlighting new federal investments to help more Phoenix families and business owners access affordable clean energy, earlier today.
Thanks to the efforts of Arizona’s clean energy champions in Congress, Arizona is already benefiting from major investments included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Speakers at today’s event lauded the economic benefits Arizonans stand to gain from the federal grants allocated to Arizona’s new Office of Resiliency. These funds will facilitate the rollout of broad clean energy investments, positioning the state as a leader in clean, affordable energy.
“Our state is committed to building a more resilient and prosperous clean energy future for all,” said Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs. “That’s why we established the Office of Resiliency — to help reverse the dire impacts of extreme weather events like drought, dangerous heat, wildfires, and flooding. These federal laws provide essential resources to make true headway in our climate mitigation efforts while also distributing a wave of economic benefits for Arizona families and businesses.”
Among the many federal investments in the state, nearly $77 million will be allocated to the Home Energy Performance-Based Whole-House Rebates Program (HOMES) and an additional $76.4 million will benefit the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program (HEEHR).
“Through these programs, low- and moderate-income families can receive up to $14,000 per household to lower the cost of switching to efficient electric appliances,” added Gov. Hobbs. “As we continue to rise to the challenges of addressing climate change and reducing pollution, we are demonstrating what’s possible, thanks to these historic federal investments in clean energy.”
Echoing the governor’s sentiments, Phoenix Mayor Gallego elaborated on Phoenix’s clean energy vision.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to the Biden administration and our congressional leaders for their hard work in delivering these pivotal federal investments to develop Phoenix’s clean energy initiatives,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “Their dedication has empowered us to enhance our drive towards making these clean energy investments accessible for all households and businesses across our city.”
Director Mahoney of the Governor’s Office of Resiliency highlighted how these federal investments make good on the promise to ensure a resilient and equitable future for all Arizonans: “The Governor’s Office of Resiliency is deeply committed to making Arizona a stronger, more resilient state. Our active pursuit of programs like the HOMES Rebate and High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate, which will bring nearly $153 million in funding to our communities, demonstrates this commitment.”
These federal investments included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) benefit Arizona families and businesses by reducing energy costs, creating jobs, and driving the clean energy transition forward. From the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grants that support local governments’ efforts to prevent outages and enhance the resilience of the state’s electric grid, this new funding is not only preparing Arizona for future challenges but also positioning the state as a leader in clean and sustainable energy solutions.
“By prioritizing these significant federal investments, Arizona is leading in clean energy production, creating high-paying local jobs and driving a major sector of our economy,” said Bianca Buliga, Director of Marketing and Communications of the Arizona Technology Council, highlighting the value of these federal investments to the state’s burgeoning clean energy job sector.
She continued, “This commitment is not only curbing harmful air pollution but also fostering a dynamic clean energy workforce. As Arizona emerges as an innovation hub, we foresee accelerated growth in the clean energy sector, leading to a more resilient economy and a brighter, more sustainable future for all Arizonans.”
The press conference also featured speakers from Advanced Energy United, Ceres, Building Performance Association, and Ideal Air Conditioning and Insulation. Speakers urged federal leaders not only to reject efforts to scale back investments in climate action — as some have suggested — but also to expand them further in order to curb carbon pollution and other dangerous emissions.
