Maine Insights Newsmagazine

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By Edwin J. Viera

Wednesday, August 14, 2024   

New York and the nation have seen sweeping impacts since the Inflation Reduction Act’s passage two years ago. New York received $34 billion from the IRA for large-scale clean energy generation and storage. Along with funds to expand the state’s clean energy sources, it’s also provided resources for homeowners to make their homes climate efficient.

Actress Yetide Badaki says the law’s passage creates an equitable climate future.

“To achieve equality, we must solve and work for environmental justice for all. The Inflation Reduction Act’s focus on environmental justice and justice for the areas is historic and it puts us on that path,” Badaki said.

Environmental justice communities have been a priority across New York State as storm damage worsens. This year, the state has seen an estimated $23 billion in damage from ‘billion-dollar disasters’. Though New York City is a concentrated hub of E.J. communities, they can be found across the state. IRA funds are being provided for homeowners across the state to prepare their homes for blustering storm impacts.

Many elected officials see the Inflation Reduction Act as a way to make the U.S. energy independent. Creating energy through wind, solar, and other renewable means reduced dependence on other countries for national energy needs.

Alex Cornell du Houx, president of Elected Officials to Protect America, said this benefits national and global security.

“The U.S. produces a decent amount of oil and gas, but it can never supply the world, and this infrastructure is extremely vulnerable, as we’ve seen in Ukraine. So, to make sure that we’re energy secure we’ve got to be able to move away from oil and gas. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

He added the IRA’s clean energy funds can reduce the influence of groups like the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries or OPEC. The Russia-Ukraine War has made energy independence a rising concern. The World Population Review finds the U.S. imported 405,000 barrels of oil from Russia in December 2021.