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Clean energy is creating jobs and cost savings for Arizonans and Americans across the country. As the business manager of IBEW Local 570, I know firsthand how important clean energy is to making our economy work for all Americans. If we want to build back American manufacturing and keep our competitive edge over China, we need to invest in the energy of the future. That’s clean energy.
And it’s not just about jobs. Too many Americans are struggling under the weight of high energy costs, with more than a quarter of U.S. households unable to afford their energy bills. More than 75% of households say they’re stressed about their energy payments.
Clean energy investments are already saving Americans make-or-break money on their electricity bills. By 2030, these investments will save the average American taxpayer an estimated $1,000 annually in energy costs.
Something has to change, which is why I’ve been so supportive of investments in clean energy at the federal level and in the private sector over the past few years. This money is fueling a clean energy economic boom — a boom that will be jeopardized if President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans repeal these investments and tax credits this year.
Clean energy like solar and electric vehicles are now a critical part of Arizona’s economy, creating jobs that don’t often require a four-year degree. Because of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which created a roadmap for a clean energy future, companies have announced or advanced 751 new clean energy projects, creating 406,007 new jobs nationwide — including 18,700 in Arizona — and driving $422 billion in new investments across 48 states and Puerto Rico.
From the installation of electrical vehicle charging stations to solar panels, these projects provide clean energy to people in Arizona. They also provide an opportunity for skilled workers to earn middle-class wages.
Americans everywhere are benefitting: These jobs and investment dollars are split almost evenly between Republican and Democratic districts. Since the passage of the clean energy plan, private companies have announced 405 projects (53.9%) totaling $204.69 billion in investment (48.5%) and 216,322 new jobs (53.3%) in 152 districts represented by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge the importance of these investments. In August 2024, 18 Republican members of Congress wrote a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson in support of the clean energy tax credits that have brought direct benefits to many of their districts. “Energy tax credits have spurred innovation, incentivized investment, and created good jobs in many parts of the country — including many districts represented by members of our conference,” they wrote.
Repealing, gutting, or even freezing the federal investments that are propelling the U.S. to the forefront of clean energy innovation would set our country back and threaten the livelihoods of the millions of Americans who work in clean energy.
Clean energy incentives in the clean energy plan will lower energy costs, according to utility CEOs. Tax advantages make it affordable for utilities to directly own and operate solar power facilities, passing savings onto customers. Clean energy plan tax credits also allow utilities to lower costs for consumers. For example, Duke Energy will cut residential energy rates in Florida because of retroactive tax credits from the clean energy plan.
If investments in clean energy are repealed, consumers could see monthly household energy bills rise by an average of 10%, with states like Texas facing an increase of up to 22%.
The 2022 clean energy plan supports unions like mine, making sure that American workers don’t get left behind. Projects that pay prevailing wages and hire registered apprentices to work on clean energy projects will receive a fivefold increase in clean energy deployment tax credits.
An August 2024 report from the Climate Jobs National Resource Center identified more than 6,000 utility-scale clean energy projects planned, under construction or already operating that could be eligible for the clean energy plan’s labor standards tax credits. Combined, these projects represent a potential 3.9 million jobs, more than $2 trillion in investments and over 1 million megawatts of clean power.
Investing in clean energy isn’t about getting rid of manufacturing or construction jobs — in fact, it’s about creating more of them. Clean energy is a cost-of-living and economic issue. Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act would be bad for American business and bad for American workers, but great for China. Preserving America’s competitive edge in clean energy is essential for ensuring an economically prosperous future.
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This post was originally authored and published by Joshua DeSpain from AZ Mirror via RSS Feed. Join today to get your news feed on Nationwide Report®.
