ARIZONA – As Republicans in Congress push to pass a budget bill that will slash jobs and raise prices for Arizonans – including shrinking the state’s economy by $2.89 billion – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is hearing from stakeholders on how these cuts will impact the livelihoods of residents.
Senator Gallego released a report highlighting the economic harm these cuts will cause across the state, including:
- Putting over 13,000 Arizona jobs, which were created by the Inflation Reduction Act, at risk.
- Raising Arizona families’ utility bills by more than $110 per year.
- Shrinking Arizona’s economy by $2.89 billion by 2030.
Read more from the Senator on the issue HERE.
Here’s what they are saying back in Arizona:
“Tax credits from the IRA have created thousands of high-paying construction jobs that provide a solid path to the middle class for countless Arizonans. To roll back these credits would undermine this progress,” said Tomas Robles, Arizona Building Trades Council. “We appreciate Senator Gallego for standing with the building trades and defending these vital IRA credits.”
“As a construction union member, I am very concerned that if the IRA clean energy funding is repealed, we will lose thousands of jobs here in Arizona and hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide. This applies not only to union construction workers but also to non-union construction workers, energy manufacturing workers, the companies that own these projects, and the communities where they are being built. It will severely impede the “America First, all-of-the-above” energy policy and will raise energy costs for consumers,” said Dean Wine, Arizona IBEW Member. “Any congressional representative who votes for the repeal needs to be held accountable in the next election.”
“Thanks to the clean energy funding from the IRA, we were able to take important steps toward making our small business more sustainable including investing in energy efficient equipment and reducing our utility costs,” said Erika Felix, Owner of La Michoacana Al Natural, West Phoenix. “Without this support, it would have been much harder for us as a Latino owned business to prioritize green practices while staying competitive. Repealing this funding would hurt businesses like ours that are working hard to be part of the solution.”
“Without the clean energy funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, Sonoran Stitch Factory would not have been able to install new LED lighting throughout our facility. This upgrade significantly improved our lighting quality and reduced our energy consumption, cutting our utility bills and freeing up funds for other critical improvements and expansion projects,” said Erica Yngve, Owner of Sonoran Stitch Factory. “The proposed elimination of these clean energy provisions will make it more expensive to operate a small business like mine—erasing the value of any tax credits and then some. These investments aren’t just about sustainability—they’re about survival and growth for small manufacturers like us.”
“As an owner of a local, homegrown solar and battery installation company, the proposed Reconciliation Bill would be devastating to our business. We are proud to keep food on the table of seventeen families in southern Arizona and provide energy independence to thousands of homes and small businesses in our community,” said Louis Woofenden, Engineering Director & Owner, Net Zero Solar. “If these energy credits are gutted at the end of 2025 as planned, the bottom line is we would have to lay off a large number of the wonderful folks who are part of our team.”
“If Congress does not change course, this legislation will prevent the administration’s goal for American Energy dominance, with 70-80% of the jobs and new manufacturing operations post IRA in states that voted for President Trump,” said Eric Goodwin, Vice President of Business Development at OMCO Solar (HQ in Phoenix). “Thousands of voters that counted on our President to Make America Great Again will be left in the dust, with the repeal and restrictions on clean energy credits (such as the 48E ITC, 45X and transferability) that make projects happen will result in lost jobs, US factory closures, and loss of competitiveness against China and other adversaries.”
“National energy demand is surging, not just from consumers and utilities, but also from data centers seeking clean, low-cost power to meet the AI boom. My company, SOLARCYCLE, which is headquartered in Mesa, AZ, is one of many that is working hard to meet growing energy demand by bringing advanced solar manufacturing to American soil. We’re creating hundreds of jobs and catalyzing meaningful economic growth in the South and Southwest as a result,” said Suvi Sharma, CEO and Co-Founder, SOLARCYCLE. “The draft reconciliation bill in the Senate would weaken or eliminate key clean energy incentives and programs that are enabling our success. Whether America becomes the leader in energy manufacturing and AI infrastructure—or cedes ground to China and Southeast Asia—depends on whether we continue to invest in domestic clean energy manufacturing.”
“Tax credits from the IRA have created thousands of high-paying construction jobs that provide a solid path to the middle class for countless Arizonans,” said Michael Vazquez, Executive Director of the Arizona Business Trade Council. “To roll back these credits would undermine this progress. We appreciate Senator Gallego for standing with the building trades and defending these vital IRA credits.”
“From a business standpoint, these tax credits have been vital for our growth, directly enabling us to expand our local workforce and deliver tangible cost savings to both homeowners and businesses. They’ve empowered non-profit organizations to put resources precisely where they’re most impactful: our communities,” said Robert Neifert, Director of Business Development of Solar Gain. “Republicans need to recognize the factories, jobs, and energy contributions from renewables and lean into them, not take them away. The mere prospect of these potential cuts has already initiated very serious, strategic discussions within our company about how we will navigate the future if this legislation becomes a reality.”
7/1/25