6 Reasons Why the GOP’s Debt Ceiling Ploy to Defund Clean Energy Would Hurt Workers – In Their Districts
On Wednesday, House Republicans, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, introduced a bill that endangers clean energy jobs. In order to agree to pay the nation’s bills and raise the debt ceiling, House Republicans want to defund America’s clean energy jobs by repealing key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act.
But in doing so, Republicans would hurt millions of American workers and consumers, jeopardizing thousands of clean energy jobs and shuttering dozens of factories in revitalized manufacturing communities.
Here’s six reasons why the House Republicans’ plan to gut the Inflation Reduction Act puts politics above people, including their own constituents.
In less than a year, the Inflation Reduction Act has spurred 142,000 new jobs, which could be lost as a result of the GOP debt ceiling ploy.
Since the passage of the IRA last August, companies have already announced or started projects that would create over 142,000 new clean energy jobs. That’s according to newly released data from Climate Power. These are domestic, good-paying jobs for electricians, mechanics, construction workers, technicians, support staff, and many others. And they’re made possible by the clean energy provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, which provide incentives for new factories, new investments and new jobs.
Many of those new jobs are coming to Republican-led states, unless the House GOP succeeds.
The jobs and projects created by the Inflation Reduction Act are overwhelmingly in areas of the country represented by Republicans, which raises questions about why the House GOP is taking an action that would hurt their own communities first and most. According to Politico reporting in January, “roughly two-thirds of the major projects are in districts whose Republican lawmakers opposed the Inflation Reduction Act…”
American manufacturing is bouncing back. Repealing the IRA would endanger that rebound and endanger the jobs and factories that are roaring back across the country.
Families save on energy costs because of the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Inflation Reduction Act isn’t just a jobs bill. It helps consumers save money on their energy bills by switching to clean energy, as much $1,000 per year. The bill’s rebates and tax credits for consumers make energy-efficient homes, solar panels and electric vehicles more affordable. The U.S. can’t afford to lose those savings, especially when families’ budgets are already stretched thin.
The House GOP debt ceiling ploy would hurt America’s veterans, too.
Destroying clean energy jobs will disproportionately hurt America’s veterans. America’s clean energy companies employ veterans at an above average rate. These veterans served their country; House Republicans shouldn’t be endangering their good-paying, clean energy jobs.
America’s energy security would be endangered.
Clean energy makes our energy supply more secure and less vulnerable to foreign manipulation. Without it, and for as long as we rely on fossil fuels, the U.S. will remain vulnerable to volatile oil and gas prices that are controlled by a global market. Look at what happened this year and last: OPEC and Russia cut oil production in order to raise fuel and gas prices across the globe.
But no one can turn off the sun, the wind, or the power of the earth through geothermal power. Only made-in-America clean energy, which is strongly supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, can provide real energy security, and that’s another reason House Republicans shouldn’t defund the IRA or clean energy jobs.
The Inflation Reduction Act is an investment in America’s future.
Maybe the best part of President Biden’s Affordable Clean Energy Plan is that it’s just getting started. It’s an investment in the next 10 years of America’s energy security, leadership and clean energy workforce.
With it, we have a bright clean energy future to look forward to with more domestic manufacturing, more good-paying and more energy security. Without it, we’re in trouble. Clearly, Republicans should not defund clean energy jobs or the Inflation Reduction Act. It’s a ploy our nation can’t afford.
