$369 billion in IRA Tax Breaks and Incentives Help Mitigate the Climate Crisis — Put USA on the Road to a Clean Energy Economy  

From the EOPA DC Press Club IRA anniversary press conference from left to right: Fred Quinn III, PA Swissvale Councilmember, Alexander Walker-Griffin, CA Hercules Councilmember, National Guard, Dr. Donya Sartor, GA Jonesboro Mayor, Heidi Roddenberry, Roddenberry Foundation Board Chair, Yetide Badaki,  CA based actress/writer/producer, Star Trek, American Gods, Alex Cornell du Houx, former Maine State Representative, Marine combat veteran, EOPA President, Marshall Archer, ME Saco Deputy Mayor, Veteran and special guest Jordan Meade, UK Kent Graves-End Council Member, Advisor to Parliament.

You can view the recorded event on CSPAN HERE

August 15, 2024 

By Ramona Cornell du Houx

WASHINGTON DC.  Today at a National Press Club press conference Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) addressed the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act to fight the climate crisis as it reduces our carbon footprint, creates jobs, lifts up Justice40 communities, and helps our energy security. It has been the catalyst that put Am​​erica on the road to a clean energy economy. 

Nearly two years ago, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which contains the largest investment in clean energy in U.S. history was signed into law. It has been the catalyst that put America on the road to a clean energy economy.

“The climate crisis causes Instability around the globe, and increases climate-fueled natural disasters here at home. It’s a threat multiplier that we must take urgently and seriously. A clean energy future is an energy secure future, which will mitigate extreme weather threats,” said Alex Cornell du Houx, former Maine State Representative, Marine combat veteran, President of the Elected Officials to Protect America, and Co-Founder. “The Inflation Reduction Act is a monumental investment in our security, prosperity, and health. Nations look to America for our leadership and this historic law encourages them and industries to adopt clean energy technologies globally.”

The Inflation Reduction Act provides over $369 billion in tax breaks and incentives grants, and loan guarantees to help mitigate the climate crisis that is devastating communities daily with weather extremes and bad air quality.

“We cannot afford to ignore the international consequences of how climate change devastates countries disrupting food supplies and livelihoods. It can exacerbate underlying issues that can lead to conflicts. To truly protect our military and national security – as well as the safety and security of our friends across the globe – we need to end our reliance on fossil fuels,” said Marshall Archer, Maine Saco Deputy Mayor, Veteran. “The Inflation Reduction Act is expected to result in $780 billion to $1 trillion in investments over 10 years that will drive down emissions, improve public health, help protect the environment for future generations and put us on an energy secure path. The IRA is imperative to our security.”

The IRA has become a model for other countries.

“As we work globally to bring energy security, we look to America. The collaborative spirit in elected officials here and how the IRA is being implemented are things we must do more of at home. So, when we put solar panels on our schools we are also looking to ensure they are sustainably made in the UK. In this way we build our energy security, jobs and communities,“ said Jordan Meade, UK Kent Councilor from Graves End, Advisor to Parliament.

The IRA recognizes environmental justice with multiple programs, and with the administration’s Justice40 mandate—that specifically helps underserved communities that have been left behind—it allocates 40 percent of new funding for these areas. With the help of the IRA many of these communities have begun to see investments in clean energy. It’s helping individuals and families save on utility bills, and has given many the freedom to breathe cleaner air. Additionally, new job opportunities with training are provided by the IRA for those who live in Justic40 communities.

“I’ve been privileged to act in roles where I have been able to express my views on equality, freedom and democracy through the script,” said Yetide Badaki, actress/writer/producer known for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and American Gods. Above photo) “With the inspiration and clarity of the writers on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds during the second episode in season 2 the comparison of the Federation and our United States was direct and undeniable. While both believe in liberty and justice for all and equality—both fall short due to embedded biases and antiquated laws. That’s why I’m excited by the Inflation Reduction Act. It is a climate justice law. To achieve equality—we must solve and work for environmental justice for all. The Inflation Reduction Act’s focus on environmental justice and Justice40 areas is historic and puts us on that path.”

Many of the funds dedicated for the IRA are yet to be allocated. A recent report from the US Department of the Treasury found most of the investments from the IRA so far have gone to underserved and frontline environmental justice communities.

“The Inflation Reduction Act is historic. Jobs with training in clean energy manufacturing, and clean energy installation are beginning to lift-up those who had been seeking opportunities but had none available to them simply because of their zip code. Transforming buildings to become energy efficient offers more opportunities for them,” said Dr. Donya Sartor, Georgia Jonesboro Mayor. “This is the first law to stimulate the growth of good jobs in environmental justice and Justice40 communities that has the sweeping potential to create prosperity on the road to true equality while improving health outcomes. The more it is implemented the more the atmosphere will have less fossil fuel pollutants, which have been fueling the climate crisis.”

The IRA is America’s key strategy to mitigate the climate crisis, while making USA clean energy manufacturing competitive. The IRAs  tax credits for companies that manufacture batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and other technologies in the United States rather than abroad shows investments of $44 billion made last year in domestic clean-energy manufacturing, with more planned in the years ahead.

Across the country, the tax credits provided by the law have made renewable sources of electricity cheaper to build than polluting sources like coal or natural gas. Last year, the United States added a record 32.3 gigawatts of electric capacity to the grid from solar panels, wind turbines and batteries.

“A report from the International Renewable Energy Agency found renewables have become the cheapest form of power today. Now, with the incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act we can envisage becoming energy independent from fossil fuels — free from their volatile price fluctuations and pollution. The IRA has the power to curb energy cost and enhance market resilience, which will improve our energy security,” Alexander Walker-Griffin, California Hercules Councilmember, former Mayor, National Guard, Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) California Leadership Council Chair. “With apocalyptic fires and drought California must combat the climate crisis with everything the Inflation Reduction Act has to offer. In my community we are ready to implement funds we are receiving from the IRA for our Hercules Hub — a transportation center that will connect us to major cities with ease. This historic investment is a critical tool to help improve the quality of life for environmental justice and Justice40 communities while combating the climate crisis.”

Climate change will cut the state of California’s ability to deliver water by up to 23 percent in 20 years, a report by the Department of Water Resources determined. That reduction represents enough water to supply 1,736,000 homes for a year.  

A recent report from the US Department of the Treasury found most of the investments from the IRA so far have gone to underserved and frontline environmental justice communities. About 81 percent of clean investment dollars announced since the passage of the IRA have been for projects in counties with below-average weekly wages with 70 percent of clean investment dollars going towards communities where the population is employed.

The Inflation Reduction Act also offers significant rebates for consumer clean energy technologies, such as solar panels, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and energy-efficient appliances. In 2023, heat pump sales—that heat in the winter and cool in the summer—outsold gas furnaces by 27 percent because of the IRA.

“For Pittsburgh families, this means substantial savings on energy bills. Imagine reducing your household’s energy expenses by more than $1,800 annually. This financial relief can make a big difference, particularly for those in lower-income brackets,” said Pennsylvania Swissvale Councilmember Fred Quinn III. “Moreover, the act is fostering a cleaner, healthier environment for all of us. By encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources, we are cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. This is crucial for a city like Pittsburgh, which has historically dealt with industrial pollution. The Goonies Solar project, for example, will generate enough clean energy to power 33,000 homes annually, significantly contributing to our sustainability goals.”

According to the Center for American Progress economists predicted the IRA will spur $178 billion in clean energy transportation investments. Companies are ramping up investment in response to the subsidies. Investment in manufacturing structures (i.e., building new factories or expanding existing ones) has risen in a year by a staggering 54 percent.  

“What I admire about the Inflation Reduction Act the most is it has big bold ideas that will change our nation and world for the better as we accelerate towards a clean energy economy,” said Heidi Roddenberry, President & Board Chair of the Roddenberry Foundation. “With the largest infusion of federal funding to combat and mitigate the climate crisis the Inflation Reduction Act supports innovative thinking, original ideas, and extraordinary people who are changing the world through community networks and public-private partnerships, and science. We at the Roddenberry Foundation strive for the same.”

Direct vehicle emissions amount to at least 25 percent of the greenhouse gas that fuels the climate crisis. That’s why the IRA has a point of sale incentive savings of $7,500 for a new EV manufactured in the USA. With more EVs on our roads there will be less tailpipe pollution that can lead to dangerous health problems including increased risk of asthma attacks, strokes, heart attacks, cancer, and premature death. 

“EVs are critically important to help clean up this toxic air pollution that affects environmental justice and Justice40 communities disproportionately the most. We need to accelerate that transition by helping our communities plug into the incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act,” said Christian Brock, CEO of Elected Officials to Protect America, Air Force Veteran. “This law has put us on the path to environmental equality. Everyone has the right to breathe fresh air, drink clean water and grow up in an energy secure America. The Inflation Reduction Act has put us on the highway to a clean energy economy.”

Just after a year and a half the sales of electric vehicles have boomed according to a new analysis by three groups tracking the impact of the law. EV sales are largely on track to help fulfill the law’s projected emissions reductions. A record 9.2 percent of all new cars sold in the United States in 2023 were either fully electric or plug-in hybrid models, which was on the high end of what analysts had predicted would happen after the law passed. Companies have already announced enough new U.S. battery manufacturing projects to support production of more than 10 million EVs per year.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will:

  • Job creation: An analysis from the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst finds that the more than 100 climate, energy, and environmental investments in the Inflation Reduction Act will create more than 9 million good jobs over the next decade—an average of nearly 1 million jobs each year.
  • Reduced local air pollution: The IRA will improve local air quality enough to prevent Americans from losing 350,700 fewer work days each year to illnesses in 2030. It will also lead directly to better lifetime health outcome.
  • Global economic benefits: The IRA could yield over $5 trillion in global economic benefits from reduced greenhouse gas pollution by 2050.