Inflation Reduction Act jumpstarts our transition to a clean energy future

Washington, D.C. — The Michigan League of Conservation Voters (Michigan LCV) today released the following statement after U.S. House passage of the Inflation Reduction Act: 

 

“The Inflation Reduction Act is a needed step forward in building the clean energy economy of the future,” said Hudson Villeneuve, federal government affairs coordinator for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “We share the concerns of environmental justice and low-income communities who will be disproportionately impacted by the fossil fuel giveaways in this bill. This bill has the potential to create good paying jobs, clean up air and lower energy costs for working families, but we must fight to ensure that frontline communities are prioritized for investments.”

“Black and Brown communities have borne the brunt of pollution’s costs. In implementing the Inflation Reduction Act we must continue to fight against false solutions and ensure the mandatory leases in this bill are never drilled so no communities are sacrificed in the green transition. The science is clear, if we build more fossil fuel infrastructure, we will not prevent the most devastating impacts of climate change. Passing the IRA does not end our fight for climate justice — it is only the beginning. President Biden must fight fossil fuel development with every tool at his disposal.”

 

The Inflation Reduction Act (while imperfect) is the single-largest investment in climate action in U.S. history, creating an estimated 1.4 to 1.5 million jobs by 2030, and reducing pollution to prevent up to 3,900 premature deaths and 100,000 asthma attacks annually by 2030.  This package also includes problematic elements like fossil fuel mandatory drill leases that will take us backward in our attempt to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.