GOP gets 85% of the benefit of climate law. Some still hate it. (August 2024)
floodlightnews.org

... A new tally shows the overwhelming number of jobs and projects funded by the Inflation Reduction Act go to conservative states that back Trump.

"What the Inflation Reduction Act allows us now to do is for everyday people to start to take advantage of this technology," said Othow, a longtime lawyer in North Carolina's solar industry and the president of Black Owners of Solar Services.

The IRA is the Biden Administration's signature climate law. The historic act is the most aggressive climate policy in U.S. history, rolling out billions in tax breaks and other incentives with the goal of cutting economy-wide carbon emissions 40% by 2030.

Every congressional Republican voted against the bill, arguing it was nothing more than handouts to prop up climate and social justice programs. Some on the extreme right continue to argue that climate change is a hoax. But now some GOP House members who voted against the IRA are urging their leader to consider saving key portions of it.

IRA creates economic revolution'

In fact, it is the red states that overwhelmingly have benefitted from the federal government's infusion of clean energy money, according to a report released today by E2, a national nonpartisan group of more than 10,000 business leaders that advocates for a cleaner economy and environment.

Friday marks two years since Biden inked his signature on the IRA. Companies have announced roughly 330 clean energy and vehicle projects since that time, efforts that could create 109,278 jobs and bring in a whopping $126 billion in private investments, if completed, according to the E2 report.

E2's report breaks down IRA-boosted projects by state, sector and industry as well as by congressional district. It found that "nearly 60% of the announced projects " representing 85% of the investments and 68% of the jobs " are in Republican congressional districts." ...