Arizona Watcher
The Sierra Club's report says Arizona lawmakers moved away from cleaner energy — particularly solar — and pushed measures that would loosen groundwater safeguards, characterizing the session as a retreat from renewables and climate resilience.
The Legislature approved a three-year moratorium on new data center tax exemptions, citing power and water concerns; the pause runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 and does not prohibit data-center construction.
Arizona endured prolonged extreme heat this summer — the Phoenix area reached 118°F and saw multiple days above 115°F — and the Sierra Club links these extremes to a need for cleaner energy and stronger water protections.
Lawmakers rejected proposals to remove state tax incentives for solar, a partial victory for environmental advocates who warned that losing both federal and state incentives would severely harm solar deployment.
Advocates warned several bills — including HB 2026, HB 2094 and HB 2100 — would alter assured-water-supply rules or validate older groundwater models, potentially enabling water transfers that could harm rural, groundwater-dependent communities.
The Sierra Club's 2026 report card gave Gov. Katie Hobbs an A for vetoing harmful energy, water and wildlife bills, credited most Democrats while grading all Republicans as failing, and called for stronger proactive measures on renewables and groundwater.
A recent environmental report from the Sierra Club criticizes Arizona lawmakers for moving away from cleaner energy investments — particularly solar — and for considering measures that would weaken groundwater safeguards. The report and local organizers say those decisions come…