A worker installs a solar panel on a roof. (Getty Images)
Imagine a future where your monthly bills are lower, your energy is cleaner, and you know exactly how much your energy bill will be when it is due. For us in North Carolina, that future is now in grave danger due to illegal funding cuts from the federal government.
Three years ago this month, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed by President Biden to reduce inflation, fund climate projects, and build a pathway to a more sustainable and equitable future. However, many of these programs have been abruptly cut by the Trump administration, leading to job losses and economic instability.
Just this week, The New York Times reported the Environmental Protection Agency is contemplating cancelling 7 billion dollars of grants under the Solar for All program. Over 156 million of these dollars were awarded to North Carolina grantees to help low-wealth families, renters, and rural communities access clean, affordable energy.
One year ago, I wrote of my optimism for the billions of dollars coming into North Carolina, specifically to sustain our most underserved communities. Since the launch of our website tracking these programs in January 2024, I have worked with hundreds of residents to weatherize their homes, lower their taxes while making energy efficient improvements, and take control of their electricity bills.
It is heart-wrenching to look back at the people I’ve met and think of the stories I’ve heard from folks when I know they may now no longer be able to access resources their tax dollars pay for.
A social worker in Granville County looking for emergency funds to help a resident who had been disconnected from power for over three weeks. A senior in Edgecombe County on Social Security who was scammed while trying to replace their HVAC unit. A landowner from Yancey County who was impacted by Hurricane Helene and is just trying to get on their feet.
These residents, each of whom I have directly worked with, are at risk due to program cancellations by the federal government.
Individual residents aren’t the only ones who have benefited from Congress’s decision to fund IRA programs. Businesses have seen major expansions and investments from the clean energy tax credits, which have generated $16.2 billion in new private-led investment for over 60 energy and manufacturing facilities across North Carolina. Another 7 billion dollars of private investments have already been announced for more than 100 facilities statewide.
This capital brings well-paying jobs to our state and further cements North Carolina as the number one state to do business in. Because of these cuts, we are at risk of losing over 20 billion dollars of investments and over 17,000 jobs. A majority of these opportunities are in rural communities, where folks already struggle to find good jobs to feed their families. As the number one state for rural clean energy jobs, North Carolina simply cannot afford these losses.
We as North Carolinians cannot continue to accept the illegal and cruel clawback of funds that help our neighbors keep their lights on, make our homes healthier, and support an overdue transition to clean and reliable energy.
When it was passed, the Inflation Reduction Act represented a transformative opportunity for North Carolina, promising to bolster economic stability, foster environmental sustainability, and create a more equitable energy landscape. Now, this future is directly threatened, and we must fight for it.
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