As mid-term elections approach, the race in Arizona for the state’s 8th Congressional District seat is demonstrating the growing role clean energy plays in Arizona’s political landscape — and beyond.

The district covers the southeastern portion of the state, including a large chunk of the Tucson metropolitan area, where a slew of residential solar and commercial solar energy projects have been completed in recent years. Incumbent U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords has made solar energy a centerpiece of her re-election campaign. First elected in 2006, the Tucson native is a major reason why the 8th District has seen such considerable growth in the renewable energy sector. In 2007, Giffords’ office issued a report called “Solar Energy in Southern Arizona,” which outlined broad policy goals aimed at promoting the in-state deployment of solar energy technologies. The report’s authors took care to note that, while Arizona receives enough daily sunshine to power the entire U.S., at the time over 90 percent of the state’s electricity came from coal.

Giffords argued in favor of creating solar energy incentive programs to help lower costs and stir demand. Residential solar energy systems have since become so popular that at least one solar rebate program has run dry for 2010, due to high demand. Tax breaks for companies that open clean energy manufacturing plants in the state have helped, too. Arizona is now home to a number of solar energy equipment manufacturing facilities, including those of Suntech Power and First Solar.

Despite these recent gains, it appears Arizona is split on which direction to take on renewable energy. Giffords and her Republican opponent Jesse Kelly are tied in the polls, according to Real Clear Politics. Kelly says he favors renewable energy development in the state, though he believes the free market, and not government-run incentives, should set the pace of such development. The contrasting ideas are being debated nationwide — in two weeks, hopefully we’ll have a better understanding of which route we’re taking.