Over 460 elected officials defend climate and clean energy policies that protect Americans with the IRA
By Ramona Cornell du Houx
January 27, 2025
WASHINGTON DC – Lawmakers across the country stand ready to protect federal climate laws and policies that have been taken by the Biden Administration, that progress a clean energy future for the safety, prosperity and security of all Americans.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which is America’s biggest climate investment in history, has already created 900 new factories across America, representing 400,000 jobs. Businesses have been investing billions in the build out of clean energy across America with the aid of incentives in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, IRA and the CHIPS and Science Act. By the 2024-year end, 60 GW of new clean energy was developed in the USA from IRA investments.The IRA also has been providing $80 billion in financial rebates for millions of households to adopt those clean energy products, such as electric vehicles, solar panels, and more efficient heat pumps.
At a Capitol Hill press conference before the Inauguration, Congressional Members urged their colleagues to stand strong for climate and clean energy progress, by vowing to oppose administrative and legislative attacks to roll back investments and standards that are protecting lives, creating jobs, and slashing climate pollution. A letter signed by 111 Members calling for opposition to climate and clean energy rollbacks was unveiled. They also highlighted the support of approximately 450,000 individuals, 229 organizations, and more than 460 local elected officials and community leaders for existing climate and clean energy policies. Elected officials working with Elected Officials to Protect America proudly signed the letter.
“The devastation caused by wildfires, hurricanes and unprecedented extreme weather due to the climate crisis is a clear and present danger to communities across America and around the world. Too many lives have been lost, homes and businesses destroyed. We stand ready at Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) to defend the climate and clean energy progress made by the Inflation Reduction Act and other key laws,” said Naweed Kawusi, Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) Chief Operating Officer. “We’re proud to stand with more than 460 elected officials and Congressional Members who are defending existing climate and clean energy policies that protect Americans. We vehemently oppose any administrative and legislative attacks that attempt to roll back investments and standards which protect the health of all Americas, create jobs, and slash climate pollution.”
The Inflation Reduction Act has been providing over $369 billion in tax breaks, incentives, grants, and loan guarantees that have been helping mitigate the climate crisis by building a clean energy-based economy.
Over 81 percent of these IRA investments were made in states with a Republican majority. These investments have grown local economies.
“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. EOPA will defend the IRA, other key laws and environmental standards that grow America’s clean energy while protecting our people and planet.”
Local elected officials across the United States remain committed to ambitious climate goals regardless of who is in the White House.
“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 Georgia State Representative Sandra Scott, District 76, Army Veteran, Elected Officials to Protect America Leadership Council member. “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. We stand ready to defend the Inflation Reduction Act.”
Virginia has had a slew of Inflation Reduction Act investments. Swedish-Swiss corporation ABB invested $6 million into a new 65,000-square-foot manufacturing, testing, and repair facility in Mechanicsville. ABB’s motion traction division creates a range of electrified equipment, such as converters and batteries for the railway transportation industries. The division also creates electric off-road construction machinery for mining and electrical buses.
“Manufacturing jobs have grown and local economies have benefited from Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) investments that are helping to mitigate the climate crisis. Virginia received more than $156 million through the Solar for All grant competition to deploy distributed residential solar. This is part of the Justice40 provision in the IRA that ensures 40 percent of the funding goes to help communities that have been left out of the American Dream,” said Virginia Dumfries Mayor Derick Woods, Marine Veteran, Elected Officials to Protect America Leadership Council member. The IRA is making life saving investments in local communities that could never afford to do them on their own. We will defend and fight to keep these laws in tact. Our people deserve to breathe clean air, drink clean water and live in pollution free communities.”
California is the world’s 5th largest economy.
“The LA fires are undeniable evidence that we must continue to transition to clean energy from fossil fuels. Clean energy manufacturing companies have expanded, and some have started operations in California because of the federal and state investments in clean energy. We have proven investments in clean energy creates jobs and helps our economy flourish while it protects our citizens,” said California Assemblymember Matt Haney, 17th District, Majority Whip, Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) California. “We have a plan to invest $180 billion in infrastructure over the next 10 years to benefit every community fighting carbon pollution – especially disadvantaged communities. We won’t allow our progress to be halted.”
America’s South West is embroiled in a historic drought.
“In Nevada we are at ground zero in the climate crisis with water insecurity and heatwaves that threaten the lives and livelihoods of thousands, especially in communities that have been underserved and over polluted. With Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding we’ve started to right some of the injustices in communities that have been overlooked for too long just because they have the wrong zip code. But the climate crisis has eroded key infrastructure in these communities and they need the IRA funding to continue for the long-term results could be even more devastating,” said Dr. Pat Spearman, Former Nevada State Senator, President Pro-Tempore, Retired US Army Lt. Colonel, Veteran, Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) National Climate Emergency & Energy Security Task Force member. “Private companies, spurred by IRA incentives, have poured $10 billion into the electric vehicle, battery and clean-power industries in my state. Nearly 20,500 clean-energy jobs have been announced in Nevada since the law’s passage, primarily in the battery sector. More clean-energy jobs have been created in Nevada since the IRA’s passage than all but six states. We’re used to fighting for policies to protect our people from the danger of the climate crisis.”
The extraction of fossil fuels from New Mexico’s section of the Permian Basin has increased since Putin invaded Ukraine. With an oil cartel friendly administration that is expected to get worse.
“In New Mexico, we will fight to keep the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other key federal investments that are growing our economy, and helping the lives and livelihoods of people who need it the most,” said New Mexico State Representative Debbie Sariñana, District 21, Air Force veteran, Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) New Mexico Leadership Council Chair, EOPA National Council Co-chair. “WIth the IRA’s Solar-For-All program, new manufacturing plants have been established and low-income communities are beginning to power their homes with solar power, while we lessen our carbon footprint and fight the climate crisis. States are the flag barriers of democracy. We will stand strong to protect New Mexico from any threats to dismantle our progress.”