Senator discussed how Arizona customers of Colorado River hydropower bear the brunt of higher costs due to drought
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema met with members of the Irrigation and Electrical Districts of Arizona (IEDA) – which facilitates the delivery of water and electricity to agricultural, municipal, and industrial customers throughout Arizona – to discuss her work to strengthen drought resilience and secure the West’s water future.
“As the West faces record drought conditions, I’m focused on building a broad coalition with Arizona water experts to secure our water future and give everyday families peace of mind,” said Sinema.
During the meeting, Sinema spoke about her ongoing efforts to bring Arizona stakeholders and partners from other Colorado River Basin states together to formulate a regional plan that provides a holistic solution to the American West’s water crisis and solutions for electricity customers being affected by the drought’s impact on hydropower.
The Senator has been actively working with Arizona partners to identify solutions helping mitigate the impact of Western drought in Arizona. Sinema personally secured $4 billion in Western water drought resiliency during negotiations of the Inflation Reduction Act – ensuring the legislation included adequate climate resources to secure Arizona’s water and economic future.
Last year, Sinema launched a Water Advisory Council of Arizona water experts from agriculture, tribal, conservation, academic, and business communities across Arizona. Between Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law and the Inflation Reduction law she shaped, the Senator has secured more than $12 billion in drought relief and Western water funding.