Inflation Reduction Act may help Desert Southwest residents

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law by President Biden Tuesday, marking the largest climate bill in U.S. history and local officials say it will help Yuma.

Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) visited Yuma last week and said the Act is critical to Arizonans and communities, "it raises money. It allows us to, also with this legislation, create green jobs, reduce greenhouse gases by 40%. In eight years, this is all paid for, and then some."

Kelly shared a big factor of the Act being capping out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs at $2,000 for seniors.

The Mayor of El Centro Tomas Oliva says this will have a huge impact on Imperial County.

"We have a lot of veterans. We have a lot of seniors in Imperial County. And I think that this will benefit them directly. That this would allow Medicare now to be able to provide them with medication that they may need at a lower cost, which will allow their dollar whether it's their VA benefit, social security benefit," says Mayor Oliva. "Like their dollar will be able to stretch out a little bit more because hopefully, right, they'll be spending less on medications."

The bill will lower energy costs and make it easier and cheaper to buy an electric vehicle.

"Imperial County's second largest export is renewable energy, and so there are a lot of incentives in this bill that would create like tax credits and incentivize renewable energy production," continued Mayor Oliva.

One lawyer Wade Noble, representing water irrigation districts in Yuma County, says he appreciates Senator Sinema and Kelly for stepping in and adding funding for drought relief on the Colorado River.

"And a significant portion of that four billion could help recover the loss food production that will occur in Yuma County," says Noble.

Noble says as for the rest of the bill, it might be a little more difficult to see what's going to happen until more of the plan rolls out.

According to the Inflation Reduction Act, the deficit will be reduced by 300 billion dollars.