ICYMI: Arizona Lawmaker Blasts Trump’s Self-Inflicted Energy Crisis in New Op-Ed

TUCSON—Arizona State Rep. Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton published a new op-ed in the Arizona Daily Star calling out Donald Trump for wrecking Arizona’s clean energy progress and creating an avoidable energy crisis that hits working families hardest:

“Earlier this month, voters broadly rejected Republicans for failing to lower the cost of living. Donald Trump campaigned on affordability, but instead spent his time building a ballroom and renovating a bathroom while millions went without SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

Trump has always sided with corporate polluters and fossil-fuel executives. This term, his vendetta against clean energy is clearer—and more damaging—for Arizona and its growing clean energy industry.

As a state legislator, I’ve fought for lasting water security for rural Arizona and introduced a bill to regulate the usage of greenhouse gas emissions. I know that investing in clean energy is good for our wallets and for the environment, creating lucrative jobs and lowering the cost of energy.

2024, Arizona’s clean energy industry employed more than 66,000 workers, a 3.7% increase from 2023. Our state has tremendous clean energy potential, especially where solar is concerned, ranking fourth nationwide in solar generation and third in projected solar growth.

By January 2025, federal clean energy investments had launched 30 new projects in Arizona—driving $12.75 billion in investment and 18,703 new jobs. That progress is now under threat, thanks to Trump.

Since Trump took office, our state has seen 8,058 jobs lost or delayed and more than $2 billion in investment lost or delayed. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The Republican tax bill that passed Congress this summer is projected to cause 18,000 job losses in 2030 and 20,000 job losses in 2035—just in Arizona.

The Republican tax bill repealed the federal clean energy tax credits that helped Arizonans afford energy-efficiency upgrades to their homes. Their “One Big Beautiful Bill” is projected to increase household energy costs in Arizona by $140 annually by 2030 and $220 by 2035.

As if that weren’t bad enough, Arizona’s two biggest utilities are trying to squeeze customers for more. In June 2025, Arizona Public Service filed for a 13.99% hike—about $20 more a month—while Tucson Electric Power wants 14%, another $16 a month out of families’ pockets.

Trump is sending a signal that utility monopolies can raise their rates as much as they want and that they no longer need to make an effort to transition to clean energy. In August 2025, the Arizona Corporation Commission voted to initiate the repeal of our state’s Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff rules.

These rules require utilities to obtain 15% of their electricity from clean energy sources, with 30% coming from sources like residential solar panels. That same month, Arizona Public Service announced it was abandoning its goal of obtaining 65% of energy from clean sources by 2030 and 100% by 2050.

We need more energy online to meet rising demand from extreme weather and the boom in data centers. Clean energy is a win for Arizona’s economy, our wallets, and our environment. The only losers are corporate polluters, and they’ve had it good for too long.

Trump isn’t even pretending to care about how Arizonans will afford their utility bills. This spring, his administration laid off the entire staff of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helped disadvantaged households pay their heating and cooling bills. In FY2023, Arizona received over $61 million in LIHEAP funding, helping nearly 28,000 households save on their energy bills.

In late February, Arizona paused a $153 million home energy rebate program after the Trump administration froze the funds, a program that Gov. Hobbs said was “crucial” for lowering energy costs for more than 20,000 Arizonans.

Donald Trump and Republicans have created a self-inflicted energy crisis, pulling the rug out from clean energy businesses, increasing utility costs, and making us more dependent on foreign oil while polluting our environment.

The federal government should work for the people, not against us. This month’s Democratic victories showed that voters are fed up because energy prices are too damn high.

Voters made themselves clear, and we need to do it again next year. Tell your federal officials: Side with people, not polluters.”

Read the full op-ed here.

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