Opinion: The future of clean energy? It’s in the voter’s hands!

Arizonans have the power to impact climate change this November

You’ve probably driven on the Loop 202 recently and noticed the highway signs alerting you of another ‘high pollution advisory’ day. If you haven’t seen the air quality alerts, perhaps your sign of climate change in Arizona is reaching you more viscerally through dehydration—or, worse, heat exhaustion—thanks to persistent days of extreme summer temperatures.

Regardless of how you’re receiving the signs of climate change, one message is clear: Arizona voters care about the environment and clean energy, and can turn their concerns into action by showing up at the polls this November. 

In fact, 40% of Arizona registered voters and 60% of Latino voters ages 18-34 reported that 

the environment and clean energy are significant to their presidential vote this year, according to Climate Power’s new poll results, gathered through focus groups and a poll of 900 registered Arizona voters. 

Shifting political leadership

When a shift in political leadership occurs, shifting agendas and priorities soon follow. It’s important to recognize how voters can either help maintain and grow clean energy investments in our state or end them altogether.

The two candidates hold very different energy policies, beliefs, and track records. Biden-Harris administration’s current Clean Energy Plan protects Arizonans’ health, water, and job security. It’s the most ambitious climate and clean energy plan in U.S. history. It triples the production of clean energy, cuts carbon pollution by up to 41% by 2030, and is projected to save Americans up to $38 billion in electricity costs.

Water availability

If you care about water in Arizona, it’s critical to analyze each candidate’s policies around water conservation before casting your vote.

Biden-Harris’ Clean Energy Plan responds to critical water conservation issues in Arizona by awarding $250 million to conserve water in the Lower Colorado River Basin at Lake Mead and more than $25 million to increase drought resilience and water systems in Arizona. 

Meanwhile, Trump said he wants to “gut” the Environmental Protection Agency and eliminate clean energy investments and climate safeguards that protect the environment, clean air, and drinking water. In his previous term, his administration dismissed scientific findings and weakened environmental regulations. Now, Trump has made campaign promises to toss important environmental regulations while boosting the planet-heating fossil fuel sector.

Health impact

Changes in the planet’s climate don’t just impact your external environment; they also affect your health. 

What Biden has accomplished to protect America’s health and water strongly contrasts Trump’s record of allowing polluters to pollute its air and water. In his previous term, Trump signed regulation to remove millions of miles of streams and roughly half the country’s wetlands from federal protection, the largest rollback of the Clean Water Act since the law was passed in 1972. This was a major victory for the agriculture, homebuilding, mining, and oil and gas industries.

Biden understands that pollution from dirty energy sources risks Arizonan health. That’s why he strengthened the Clean Air and Water Acts and dedicated $3 billion to replace 100% of toxic lead pipes in the country. Biden also announced the first-ever limits on cancer-causing ‘forever chemicals’ to protect drinking water. 

Trump has allowed corporate polluters to pump chemicals and pollution into America’s water and air, then blocked efforts to hold those polluters accountable, leading to thousands of preventable deaths every year from respiratory problems, heart disease, and lung cancer.

Clean energy jobs

Another blow to the progress made through Biden’s clean energy plan is Trump’s plans to eliminate clean energy investments as part of his destructive second-term agenda. 

These clean energy investments are making a direct impact on Arizona and Arizona residents, such as Biden’s plan to bring more than $4 billion in clean energy investments to Arizona by 2030, which is already sparking more than $10 billion in private sector investments and creating 14,000 jobs in Arizona.

Power at the polls

If these issues are important to you, I encourage you to get out to the polls this November and vote for the candidate who will keep the clean energy plan moving forward and regulations in place that protect not only our environment but also our health.