Top 6 Stories Worth Reading — October 2024
Oct 31, 2024
Election Day is Nov 5! Find LCVAF endorsed candidates with the 2024 Climate Candidate Guide Search Now
The Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the world’s largest-ever investment in climate and clean energy, is turning two! The landmark legislation, which is helping jumpstart the clean energy transition and curb pollution, was passed by the administration and climate champions in Congress two years ago this week. Today, we’re looking back at the three most iconic achievements from the last two years of historic climate progress.
The Biden-Harris administration’s landmark climate bill is making it easier for everyday people to save on energy costs and transition to clean energy in their homes, vehicles, schools and businesses. These programs help people save money and make their homes more comfortable, all while reducing harmful emissions from fossil-fuel-powered energy.
If saving money and making your home more environmentally-friendly sounds like a win-win, that’s because it is. You can lower your household’s energy bills by hundreds or thousands of dollars a year by installing appliances that use less energy or weatherizing your home. And, thanks to the Biden-Harris administration, you can save up to 30% on the upfront costs of installing energy efficient appliances such as induction stoves, insulation, heat pumps, and rooftop solar through tax credits. Find out what tax credits you are eligible for with Rewiring America’s Savings Calculator!
Say goodbye to toxic tailpipe emissions by making the switch to an electric vehicle! You could save up to $7,500 on qualified new electric vehicles, and up to $4,000 on qualified used electric vehicles.
Read more stories from people who have taken advantage of the opportunities provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and are saving money at lcv.org/stories/.
Through a series of initiatives and grant programs, the Inflation Reduction Act is driving historic investment in climate and clean energy, particularly in communities of color and those with low income, and we love to see it. The programs include:
From boosting economies through good-paying jobs, to funding sustainable agricultural practices, programs under the IRA are strengthening our communities and improving the quality of life for people nationwide.
Since its passage, the IRA has created a total of almost 313,000 jobs across nearly every state, many of which do not require a four year degree. Check out this story of one clean energy employee who is able to do what he loves thanks to jobs created in his community due to investment from the IRA. And, see how IRA funding for offshore wind development is spurring job creation throughout New England.
Bonus! As part of the administration’s Investing in America Agenda, which includes the IRA, President Biden also launched the American Climate Corps, a training and jobs program that is putting 20,000 young people to work in good-paying climate and clean energy jobs nationwide. Learn more (or sign up)!
Tax credits for energy efficient upgrades aren’t just for individuals; they are available to businesses, schools, and community and cultural centers as well. Watch how a mosque and neighboring church in East Lansing, Michigan inspired one another to go green and save money by installing solar arrays with the help of the IRA.
The IRA infused the U.S. Farm Bill with nearly $20 billion in additional funds for climate smart agriculture. That funding is helping farmers, like Cherie Jzar of North Carolina and Maggie Hanna of Colorado, address the impacts of climate change on their farms and continue to be able to feed their communities with nutritious, local products.
Illinois was bold in passing one of the most ambitious and equitable clean energy transition bills in the nation, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). This state policy set Illinois up to take full advantage of the historic federal clean energy investments in the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. Now, Illinoisians are seeing the benefits.
The last two years have brought incredible and historic progress on climate, thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration and their landmark Inflation Reduction Act. It hasn’t been easy; extreme MAGA Republicans in Congress have tried to tear down or roll back important and popular programs under the IRA at every turn. And we still have a long way to go. To keep the climate momentum going, we need lawmakers who will fight to keep this historic legislation in place. You can get involved by joining LCV and taking online actions to remind legislators that climate is a winning issue. Here’s to many more years of iconic IRA climate action!
Line 5 is an aging fossil fuels pipeline run by Canadian oil conglomerate Enbridge Energy. For over ten years, Enbridge's operation of Line 5 has illegally trespassed on the Bad River Band reservation in Northern Wisconsin, violating the Tribe's sovereignty and threatening the waters of Lake Superior. Now, Enbridge is attempting an invasive project to expand Line 5. Enbridge needs a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is holding a public comment period for its draft environmental assessment. Tell the Corps today: Line 5 threatens water, climate, and treaty rights.
The Biden-Harris administration has finalized strong rules to limit pollution from cars and trucks — and worked to pass and is implementing unprecedented clean transportation investments and tax incentives. At the same time, Big Oil's allies in Congress are working to undermine our progress. We must call on pro-environment officials to fight back against these fossil-fueled threats.
Congress is negotiating the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, including funding for programs that help farmers cope with climate change and reduce their climate impacts. Opponents of the President’s climate agenda are trying to cut or redirect critical funding away from these programs. Tell your members of Congress now: protect the climate-smart agriculture investments in the Farm Bill that benefit our farmers, climate, public health, and economy.