The Build Back Better Act Takes Historic Action to Address the Climate Crisis and Reduce Energy Costs for Families
For Immediate Release:
December 3, 2021
Contact Info:
Margaret Mulkerrin 202-225-3130
In November, House Democrats passed the Build Back Better Act, hailed as one of the largest climate commitments in American history. Provisions in the bill will help address the climate crisis, bring down energy costs for middle-class families, advance environmental justice, create a domestic supply chain for clean energy technologies that creates good-paying jobs for our nation’s workers, and expand on the climate resilience priorities championed in the bipartisan infrastructure law signed into law on November 15.
Addressing the Climate Crisis: Extreme weather, a warming climate, and shifting weather patterns caused by climate change are already having a harmful impact on communities across the country, affecting agricultural productivity, mortality, crime, energy use, storm activity, and coastal inundation. Studies show that unabated climate change could have a significant economic effect, potentially shrinking the U.S. economy by an annual 1-4% by the end of the 21st century.
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Addressing the Climate Crisis: Extreme weather, a warming climate, and shifting weather patterns caused by climate change are already having a harmful impact on communities across the country, affecting agricultural productivity, mortality, crime, energy use, storm activity, and coastal inundation. Studies show that unabated climate change could have a significant economic effect, potentially shrinking the U.S. economy by an annual 1-4% by the end of the 21st century.
- The Build Back Better Act would put $555 billion toward building a clean energy economy in the United States, the largest single investment in combating climate change in American history. The legislation would help the United States deliver on its climate goals while also creating good-paying jobs and growing the economy.
- Through consumer rebates and tax credits included in the legislation, the average American family will save hundreds of dollars in energy costs annually. The legislation expands existing home energy tax credits that promote efficient energy use while creating a rebate program that focuses on electrification, which will advance the Biden Administration’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2030.
- The Build Back Better Act would create a new Civilian Climate Corps that will create over 300,000 good-paying jobs to advance climate initiatives, help communities transition to clean energy, and build climate-resilient infrastructure in communities across the country.
- Provisions in the Build Back Better Act would also create a Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator that will work on climate infrastructure projects throughout the country, with a commitment to delivering 40% of investment benefits in historically disadvantaged communities. The accelerator will also drive private investment in projects that advance America’s climate goals, yielding benefits for all Americans and it could create over 4 million jobs for American workers.
- The Build Back Better Act includes targeted incentives for domestic clean energy business development and manufacturing, which will not only create good-paying jobs here at home, but also increase the supply of clean energy technology to aid Americans in transitioning to clean energy. This policy will also boost the competitiveness of existing American industries such as steel, cement, and aluminum, creating economic benefits for American workers.
- The legislation also provides incentives for the government to procure clean energy technology for infrastructure projects, advancing the Biden Administration’s climate goals.
- The Build Back Better Act would fund climate resilience initiatives to upgrade critical infrastructure to ensure that state and local governments can meet the needs of their communities in extreme weather events and promote natural solutions to climate change through coastal restoration, forest management, and soil conservation.
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