45 organizations welcome investments as a turning point to combat climate change and build clean energy future

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Amid a rapidly warming climate, President Biden today signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the Act would invest $369 billion into combating climate change and bolstering U.S. clean energy production, yet due to provisions in the bill which allow continued fossil fuel leasing on public lands and water, potential health and safety concerns for frontline communities remain. In response to the passage of these historic climate investments, 45 clean energy, climate, building electrification, energy, and affordable housing organizations released the following joint statement:

“The Inflation Reduction Act is a historic investment in the technologies and jobs required to build our clean energy future, and its passage signals a turning point in the national effort to combat climate change. Our groups celebrate the climate investments in the act, commend the Biden administration and Congress for their leadership, and call for additional measures to protect frontline communities.

“To reduce the greenhouse gases fueling the climate crisis, we must address emissions from every sector of our society, including our homes and buildings. Investments and incentives in this climate package will help drive a revolutionary shift for both homeowners and the market to transition the nation’s building stock to run on 100% clean, renewable energy. For homeowners, this means incentives and rebates for home upgrades like highly-efficient electric heat pumps, insulation and induction stoves, which can lower annual household energy costs by $1,800, and improve indoor air quality. And for our nation, it means reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 37-41% below 2005 levels, lowering the national deficit by $300 billion, and creating 9 million good-paying jobs to build the bridge to our clean energy future.

“Our groups also urge the Biden administration to allocate IRA funds rapidly to state agencies and state energy offices to quickly deploy these much needed resources to support healthier homes and communities.

“While we welcome the climate provisions in the IRA, unfortunately it includes support for the continued fossil fuel leasing on public lands and waters. Our groups will continue to support and stand with frontline communities who may face environmental justice issues due to permitting
provisions in the bill.

“Today, we celebrate the tremendous clean energy investments in the IRA’s climate provisions, which will cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, lower energy costs and reduce inflation. Yet to secure a more safe and prosperous future for all, our groups recognize that much more action will be needed to protect frontline communities and end our reliance on fossil fuels entirely. We stand ready to help realize such a future for all residents, in all communities – especially those who have historically been disproportionately burdened and harmed by the production and use of fossil fuels.”

American Sustainable Business Network
Appliance Standards Awareness Project
Association for Energy Affordability
Aztech Geothermal, LLC
BeniSol, LLC
BPCA-NYS Inc.
Bread From Heaven Ministries International
Building Electrification Institute
C40 Cities
Capital Good Fund
Center for Popular Democracy
CLASP
Clean Energy for America
Climate Changemakers
Climate Hawks Vote
ClimateVoice, a project of Tides Center
Dandelion Energy
Earthjustice
EarthKind Energy Consulting
Eco Infinity Nation
Elevate
Energy Solutions
Geothermal Exchange Organization
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, Inc.
Healthy Kitchens
Hispanic Federation
League of Conservation Voters
National Housing Trust
New Buildings Institute (NBI)
NY-GEO, New York Geothermal Energy Organization
Philadelphia Energy Authority
Project Green Home
Rewiring America
RMI
Sealed
Sierra Club
SunPower Corporation
Sustainable Silicon Valley
Shift Zero
The Climate Collaborative
The 99% PA
thirdACT PBC
Oregonizers
VEIC
ZeroCarbonMA