Clean energy jobs put Arizona Republican at odds with GOP plan to gut climate law

An Arizona congressman faces pressure from both Trump and his voters as clean energy projects flourish in his district thanks to a law the GOP wants to dismantle.

James Bikales reports for POLITICO.

In short:

Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) represents a swing district transformed by clean energy investments from the Inflation Reduction Act, including a rapidly growing Lucid Motors plant and a major solar expansion.
Ciscomani has urged party leaders to preserve key tax credits but voted for a budget resolution enabling their potential repeal, as GOP leaders move to eliminate most clean energy incentives to fund a sweeping megabill.
His political future hangs in the balance as Democrats mobilize to hold him accountable, while local officials warn that ending the credits would stall economic growth and job creation.

Key quote:

“As much as there are other aspects of the IRA we [Republicans] can disagree with, these tax credits have had an impact in my district — and on job creation, on investment, also national security, because of energy production and having wanted to bring that more domestically.”

— Juan Ciscomani, U.S. representative from Arizona

Why this matters:

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, has funneled billions into clean energy development, especially in economically struggling areas. In Arizona’s 6th District, those investments are reshaping the region. Across rural areas, solar projects are helping control rising utility costs and stabilizing grids amid extreme heat. Many of these projects hinge on tax credits the House GOP now aims to repeal, threatening jobs, local tax bases, and energy resilience. Constituents, many of them veterans or working-class residents, risk losing new opportunities if clean energy incentives vanish. While some Republican lawmakers recognize the benefits and seek a middle ground, party pressure to dismantle the IRA — branded a “Green New Scam” by Trump — puts them in a bind.

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California mining company turns to solar heat but can’t quit coal just yet

In California’s Mojave Desert, a mining plant is turning to solar thermal energy to replace one of its coal-fired generators, but a second unit may run for years due to the intense heat and 24-hour power it needs.

Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Searles Valley Minerals, a mining company in Trona, Calif., is replacing one of its two coal plants with a solar thermal system but says the other may need to stay online for the foreseeable future due to operational demands.
The company will use a concentrating solar power system from start-up GlassPoint, which uses mirrors to generate high heat, a solution that works well in hot, sunny areas but requires a large land footprint and remains rare in the U.S.
Despite California’s push to phase out coal and President Trump’s efforts to revive it, economic and geographic constraints continue to complicate full industrial transitions away from fossil fuels.

Key quote:

“We just think coal is going to be a problem. We’re going to have a hard time sourcing it. We need to be ready to pivot.”

— Dennis Cruise, president of Searles Valley Minerals

Why this matters:

Industrial heat — the kind used in mining, chemical production, and heavy manufacturing — accounts for about half of global energy use, yet it’s rarely mentioned in public climate debates. Unlike home heating or car travel, generating this level of heat without fossil fuels is still tough. Most renewable energy technologies don’t deliver the extreme, continuous heat these facilities need. That leaves industries like the one in Trona stuck with coal, even as it becomes harder to source and politically unpopular. As the U.S. attempts to decarbonize, industrial energy needs present one of the biggest hurdles.

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