Climate watch: Climate action is bringing investment and jobs to Pennsylvania
One year after a major federal climate bill was passed, Pennsylvania is benefiting from new clean energy investment and jobs.
When the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law last August, it unleashed a stream of clean energy projects nationally — $86 billion worth so far, across 38 states, that are expected to create a minimum of 72,000 new jobs. The Act fashioned an historic set of tax credits to produce jobs in clean energy industries. And that’s what is happening.
Here are a couple of examples: In Williamsport, Prysmian Group and Invenergy Transmission have announced they will supply up to 12,500 miles of overhead conductor cable to support new high-voltage energy transmission projects. That will create 27 new jobs in Lycoming County and retain 407 jobs statewide. It’s a $22.5 million investment in building new domestic transmission lines. Near Meadville, Vitro Architectural Glass is investing $93.6 million to upgrade its facilities to make glass for solar panels. About 130 new jobs will result.
It may surprise you to know that by 2021 there were already 92,773 Pennsylvania workers employed in clean energy jobs, according to whitehouse.gov. The impetus of the Inflation Reduction Act is expected to bring $270 millions of investment in large-scale clean power generation and storage to Pennsylvania between now and 2030.
This investment illustrates how we can reap rewards for Pennsylvania residents while tackling the most pressing issue of our time — escalating weather extremes due to the heat-trapping carbon pollution we continue to release into the atmosphere, altering our climate.
The Keystone State has not escaped this summer’s climate extremes. We’ve seen, smelled and unfortunately inhaled the smoke from the massive Canadian wildfires.
The good news is the U.S. is rapidly embracing tangible solutions to reduce the carbon emissions damaging our climate. Even better, the solutions are boosting the pocketbooks of everyday folks. The Inflation Reduction Act was packed full of incentives for Pennsylvania residents with effectively a free “clean energy bank account” to cut emissions while reducing household bills and improving air quality. Savvy consumers are already taking advantage of savings adding up to more than $1,000 per year when purchasing electric cars, induction stoves, and energy-efficient appliances.
At the very least, the climate policy progress we have already made must remain intact. With an election year around the corner, it may be tempting to play politics around this legislation or around the climate issue in general, but any efforts to roll back or redirect this critical climate investment would be ill-advised. Voters like us want — and expect — these benefits to continue to flow into our state.
This summer’s climate headlines have been concerning, but the solutions to stop the escalating extremes are exciting.
As our legislators look to the future of our state, they should ramp up our clean energy efforts, meeting the moment to reduce climate pollution while bringing good jobs and real-world benefits to the people of Pennsylvania.