A note from our executive director, Jamal Raad, on the news from July 27 that Sen. Manchin reached a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
In a surprise move this week, Senator Joe Manchin and Senator Schumer unveiled the Inflation Reduction Act, a reconciliation deal that will be the single largest investment in clean energy in American history and put the U.S. on a path to reduce pollution by 40 percent by 2030 – if we help it overcome the remaining hurdles on its way to President Biden’s desk.
This is the moment we’ve been working toward. Call your members of Congress now to tell them you’re counting on them to pass this historic bill!
“This legislation will be the greatest pro climate legislation that Congress has ever, ever passed.”@SenSchumer is right. By putting us on a path to cut carbon pollution 40% by 2030, the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate investments are historic. pic.twitter.com/mzslF5tUFE
— Evergreen Action (@EvergreenAction) July 28, 2022
The Inflation Reduction Act allocates $369 billion for climate and energy investments, including:
- Clean energy tax credits for wind and solar, EVs, efficiency upgrades, heat pumps, and much more
- More than $60 billion for environmental justice priorities
- Up to $60 billion for domestic clean energy manufacturing
- $27 billion for a Clean Energy Accelerator
- And much, much more
The text does include some giveaways to the fossil fuel industry – it mandates four offshore lease sales (two in the Gulf of Mexico and one in Alaska), and, astoundingly, ties any future offshore wind or wind power on public lands to oil and gas lease sales. These pieces simply don’t make sense in a climate bill – but they are a reflection of the makeup of the U.S. Senate – something we must keep working on.
Ultimately, this bill is essential for meeting our climate targets. This would be the single largest investment in clean energy in American history, and it can’t wait another moment. Call your representatives and urge them to pass the Inflation Reduction Act as soon as possible. We’ve got a script if you need it.
The American people elected Democrats to get a climate bill done, and now they must come through. It’s up to us to keep the pressure on until President Biden signs these historic climate investments into law.
Onward,
Jamal Raad
Executive Director, Evergreen Action