Climate champions highlight economic benefits of Biden Administration’s investments in Nevada; urge Congress to protect investments in climate and clean energy
Reno, Nevada– President Biden has delivered historic investments in climate and clean energy that have created jobs in Reno and across the state of Nevada, says a group of local leaders and advocates.
Mayor of the City of Reno Hillary Schieve, Sustainability Manager of Reno Suzanne Groneman, and Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill were joined today by climate advocates in Nevada to celebrate key investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and other key Biden Administration investments that have come to Reno and Washoe County, Nevada. During this press conference, they highlighted how these investments create good-paying jobs for Nevadans across the state, including here in Reno and Washoe County.
President Biden has delivered many new clean energy and climate investments that will have a lasting impact in Reno and Washoe County, including:
- A report released this year by the group Climate Power found that roughly 3,400 jobs and $3.8 billion of clean energy investments have been announced in Nevada since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Another report estimated that the Inflation Reduction Act will create more than 42,000 new clean energy jobs in Nevada in 10 years
- Nearly $10 million was awarded to the American Battery Technology Company in Reno as part of the IIJA funded Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life grant
- $2 billion in conditional loan commitments from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) to Redwood Materials for the construction and expansion of a battery materials campus in McCarran(Washoe County), Nevada that will support the growing electric vehicle (EV) market in America.
These investments address the climate crisis and expand clean energy development and infrastructure.
“As we have seen significant impacts due to climate change in recent months, including extreme temperatures, smoke from wildfires, and a tropical storm, it is clear we need to continue pushing for assistance in combatting climate change,” said Amber Falgout, Acting Communications Director for Institute for a Progressive Nevada. “The provisions within the Inflation Reduction Act have started helping businesses and communities combat the climate crisis. For example in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, there is a new consumer tax credit of up to $4,000 for middle-and lower-income people to buy used clean vehicles and up to $7,500 tax credit to buy new clean vehicles. This measure will help people afford electric vehicles which is a step toward ensuring we reduce our carbon footprint. The Biden Administration has also provided numerous benefits through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will Invest $468 million to improve public transportation across the state to provide healthy, sustainable transportation options and replace thousands of dirty transit vehicles with clean, zero-emission vehicles. We are grateful to see President Biden and the members of our congressional local delegation who supported these measures work toward a clean energy future.”
“Through the Inflation Reduction Act, America is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in climate solutions that will benefit people in Washoe County and across Nevada in multiple ways,” said Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill. “From more renewable energy to more efficient buildings, better transportation solutions, expanded urban forest to combat urban heat, and more community gardens, especially in our most vulnerable communities. Not only will these investments create more jobs, but they will clean our air, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide more reliable and affordable energy, improve access to healthy food for our children, and improve the quality of life here in Washoe County.”
“This Affordable Clean Energy Plan is critical to mitigating global climate change by moving us closer to our net zero emissions goals, expanding our clean energy infrastructure and technology and providing our families economic relief,” said Trystin St. Denis, community organizer for Nevada Conservation League. “We’re already seeing good-paying jobs reach Nevadans across our state thanks to these federal investments. Roughly 3,400 jobs and $3.8 billion of clean energy investments have been announced in Nevada since its passage, and an estimated 42,000 new clean energy jobs are expected to reach Nevada in the next 10 years. These good-paying, high-quality jobs must reach all communities. We’re excited to see meaningful recruitment in historically marginalized neighborhoods, and equitable resources and training for the incoming workforce.”
Today’s event was sponsored by the Climate Action Campaign (CAC), Institute for a Progressive Nevada, and Nevada Conservation League and Education Fund (NCL) and held at City Plaza in Reno.
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