Article Summary –
A new US citizen and Phoenix resident highlights the importance of clean energy and climate issues in the election, praising the Biden-Harris administration’s investments and projects, such as the Ten West Link. The article contrasts VP Harris’s climate leadership with Trump’s Project 2025, emphasizing environmental justice and job creation.
Earlier this year, I became a citizen. With early voting underway, I will soon vote in a US presidential election for the first time. Living in Phoenix and working in environmental justice and clean energy for five years, I’m excited to vote on these critical issues.
Recently, Hurricane Helene devastated the East Coast, while Arizona faces climate change impacts like extreme heat: Arizona’s average temperature has increased by two degrees since the early 2000s.
Extreme heat leads to serious health effects like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Outdoor workers, the elderly, and low-income communities face heightened risks. Latinos are 21% more likely than non-Hispanic whites to reside in urban heat islands. The EPA estimates Latinos are over 40% more likely to endure excessive heat on workdays.
Many families struggle with cooling costs: Nearly 40% of Latino households can’t pay their electricity bills. Investment in clean energy is crucial to provide affordable cooling and transport options.
Arizona ranks second for solar energy potential, and the industry is growing. Investments in solar and wind energy aim to reduce energy costs; solar and wind power costs are expected to drop by 22% and 34%, respectively, in the next 30 years.
In Arizona, low-income people of color in rural regions like La Paz suffer the most from the climate crisis. La Paz has a 20.3% poverty rate and significant Native American and Hispanic/Latino populations. The Biden-Harris administration’s clean energy plan, including the Ten West Link project, will create 365 union jobs, modernizing energy infrastructure and enhancing grid reliability.
In the 2024 cycle, Kamala Harris supports clean energy, backing job creation and investment. As vice president, she advanced the Democrats’ clean energy plan, generating over 330,000 jobs nationwide, including over 18,000 jobs and $11 billion in Arizona. This summer, the Biden-Harris administration also unveiled new heat protection rules for 36 million workers.
Kamala Harris has consistently advocated for clean air and water. As California Attorney General and Senator, she supported the Clean Power Plan and clean water legislation. As vice president, Harris promotes replacing lead pipes and upgrading water systems.
Donald Trump’s Project 2025 could dismantle clean energy advancements, removing tax credits for green projects from the Biden-Harris plan. Trump seems indifferent to pollution’s impact on marginalized communities. Kamala Harris implemented the Justice40 Initiative, channeling 40% of climate benefits to underinvested communities.
The Biden-Harris clean energy plan has made significant investments in environmental justice, including a $30 million grant to the EPA’s Environmental Justice Program, funding key projects in Arizona.
In Tucson, Amistades Inc. received $500,000 for the Justicia Juntos project to educate Latino residents on the urban heat island effect and promote environmental justice.
These investments will strengthen Arizona communities, making them more resilient. We must continue investing in these regions, not abandon them as Trump would.
I cherish my right to vote on these crucial issues. For climate and clean energy, the choice is clear: Kamala Harris for progress versus Trump’s regression.
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