At the end of March, Climate Power gathered leaders from Pennsylvania to discuss how a federal rollback of energy incentives and investments would threaten jobs and result in higher energy costs.
In a January update, Climate Power noted that since 2022, clean energy projects have attracted $1.33 billion in investment and created 4,692 jobs. Of the 19 clean energy projects heading to the state, 12 or 63% are in Republican districts, representing $631.3 million in investment and 2,731 jobs. Additionally, rural communities will see an additional $293.6 million in investment and 1,044 jobs.
“Clean energy is a win for our environment and our economy. Clean energy creates jobs, generates investment in our community, and lowers energy prices. Over the past several years, we’ve seen the impact of clean energy investments here in Pennsylvania. There’s a reason why clean energy jobs and investment have such strong bipartisan support,” reflected Jim Greenwood, former U.S. Representative from Bucks County, which Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) has represented since 2019.
Notably, Rep. Fitzpatrick was one of the twenty-one Republicans who, in March, sent a letter to the Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO-8), advocating for clean energy tax credits.
Photo Courtesy Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick
The clean energy tax credits help the state attract business, argued Jonathan Knauer, vice president of policy and market strategy at Philadelphia-headquartered ConnectDER, which connects residences to electric vehicle chargers and solar panels: “There’s no doubt that the clean energy tax credits make the United States in general and Pennsylvania in particular a more appealing place for clean energy businesses to set up shop, grow, and expand. That’s why we joined more than 300 clean energy business leaders who wrote to congressional leadership arguing that repeal would be an ‘economic and national security disaster.’ The consensus is clear: clean energy tax credits are good for business.”
The 300 business leaders sent a clean energy business letter last June to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04), Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), and argued, “Repealing the clean energy provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act would be nothing short of an economic and national security disaster. It would pull the rug out from growing American businesses and the countless workers that have already been hired. It would leave factories half-built, with construction workers laid off mid-project, and orders from surrounding businesses unfulfilled.”
Among the other signatories on the letter was Solar States, a Philadelphia-based solar installer that has installed more than 800 commercial and residential projects since 2008.
Photo Courtesy Solar States
Meanwhile, Robbie Orvis, senior director of modeling and analysis at Energy Innovation, highlighted the impact clean energy incentives have on energy prices: “Average U.S. household power prices rose 22% from 2018 to 2023, and they could rise another 7% this year, often due to volatile fossil fuel prices. Americans are swamped by higher prices across the board and can’t afford to pay more for energy. Cheaper, cleaner energy will keep growing fast thanks to federal tax credits and funding programs. It’s becoming cheaper every day, helping Pennsylvanians fight inflation by cutting their energy costs.”
Ed Hill Jr., International Representative, Business Development at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), called on Pennsylvania leaders to prioritize its residents and families: “I’m asking our elected representatives at the federal level to prioritize the needs of Pennsylvanians, including members of the IBEW, to make ends meet and put food on our table for our families. We need more jobs and more energy options, not less.”
Jim Kurtz, president of Reading-based RER Energy Group, which has developed more than 60 60 megawatts (MW) of solar arrays since 2009, added, “I’m urging our elected representatives to make the right decision for business and for innovation, which is also the right decision for the American people. Keep the clean energy tax credits.”
