ICYMI: Clean Energy Business Leaders Tout the Benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act
Washington, D.C. – At a business roundtable hosted by Climate Power, Clean Energy for America Education Fund, Elemental Excelerator, Rewiring America, E2, Drawdown Labs and Ceres, John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, and clean energy business leaders discussed the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act – the largest investment in climate action in history. From lowering costs for families to creating good-paying jobs, President Biden’s clean energy plan is working.
“The Inflation Reduction Act is being called the manufacturing renaissance act – and these investments really are happening across the country. As you'll hear today, they're already making a difference for American workers. Clean energy projects that have moved forward since the Inflation Reduction Act passed are creating more than 170,000 jobs in 44 states and counting. And thanks to the law’s enhanced tax credits for projects that pay prevailing wages, we're making sure that these are good-paying jobs that can support a family, that offer a chance to join a union, and can attract and support the workforce that looks like America,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation.
“The IRA implementation is accelerating a shift to a cleaner energy mix, while also driving a US manufacturing renaissance. The IRA is fostering the opportunity for companies like Eos to provide energy solutions designed by American minds, built with American hands, made with American equipment, and using primarily American materials. We need to implement and deploy - we must execute this vision with speed and urgency. At such a crucial moment in our global energy transition, time is of the essence,” said Joe Mastrangelo, CEO of Eos Energy Enterprises.
“Everyone in Washington should be able to get behind a worker-powered, inclusive clean energy boom. Instead of playing politics, Republicans should be getting behind the workers who are ready to power the clean energy boom. These are the people that will build America’s economic future in one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with good-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced. We can’t kill those opportunities for American workers,” said Tonya Hicks, CEO of Power Solutions.
“The clean energy plan is putting people over politics. As a businessman, I want to see Washington investing in homegrown American businesses and industries. It doesn’t matter which party does it, as long as it works. Most people don’t know that in the year since the clean energy plan passed, most of the investment and jobs have gone to Republican districts. The law passed in Congress without a single Republican vote, but it’s helping everyone because it wasn’t about playing politics,” said Anthony Friscone, CEO of CZAR Power.
“The clean energy plan is giving millions of Americans access to affordable clean energy. It’s not just the biggest investment America has ever made in climate action, it’s an investment in American families. The Inflation Reduction Act is helping American families lower their bills and access reliable clean energy. I’m proud that we’re helping communities across America make that happen at Solstice,” said Steph Speirs, CEO of Solstice.
“The clean energy plan is opening the door for companies like Our Next Energy to create the clean energy boom. The reason we’re already seeing the beginnings of that boom is because it’s an investment in American business, and American jobs. Clean energy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and now we have the chance to become the global leader,” said Dr. Deeana Ahmed, CSO of Our Next Energy.
“We need Washington to commit to an inclusive clean energy boom. We have the chance to create an economic boom — for the first time ever — that doesn’t leave historically marginalized low-income people of color and rural populations behind. We can rebuild our middle-class, bring manufacturing jobs back home, and decarbonize all aspects of our society with clean energy. We’re right at the beginning, this industry is rapidly growing, but we need our elected representatives to act now." said Gilbert Campbell, CEO of Volt Energy Utility.
“The clean energy plan is helping to position the U.S. as a global clean energy leader. As a U.S. company with customers around the world, KORE Power sees how quickly the clean energy industry is growing worldwide. With America’s biggest-ever investment in clean energy, the Inflation Reduction Act has put the U.S. on the path to become the global clean energy leader, and we are already seeing the benefits across the supply chain and across the nation,” said Suzanne Swink, VP of Government Relations with KORE Power.
“The clean energy plan is boosting American business and creating jobs all over the country. We are proud to be constructing utility-scale solar sites in 13 states, and managing the operations and maintenance for over 400 solar sites in 29 states from coast to coast. Investments like the clean energy plan are already providing us the business certainty to help us grow. This means more new projects, economic development, and good-paying jobs that directly support people and families in rural communities. These investments in people and communities are bringing America closer to becoming the global leader in clean energy,” said Jessica Lawrence-Vaca, Vice President, Government Affairs of SOLV Energy.
“The clean energy plan is bringing electrification to scale, making clean energy more efficient and affordable. For Schneider Electric, it will help us double down on what we do best: empowering our customers to make the most of their energy resources, and bridging progress and sustainability for everyone. For everyday Americans, that will mean more access to cleaner energy, and energy savings through greater efficiency,” said Kevin Self, Senior VP for Strategy, Business Development & Government Affairs of Schneider Electric.
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About Us: CE4A Action is a federal political action committee which primarily works to elect candidates who support pro-clean energy policies.
Contact: Sarah Mason, sarah@ceforamerica.org
