As Congress Takes Aim at Clean Energy, Gov. Stein Calls on Senators to Protect NC

Governor Josh Stein is calling on North Carolina’s representatives in Congress to protect North Carolina’s booming clean energy economy by retaining key clean energy tax incentives.

From solar energy and battery plants to electric vehicles and public charging stations, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has sent hundreds of millions of dollars in clean energy incentives to North Carolina. But legislation passed by the US House would repeal those incentives and jeopardize new projects as well as ones already underway.

“Here in North Carolina, there’s more than $1.5 billion of announced or in progress investments in clean energy deployment. That is on top of $4 billion of energy projects that are clean since 2018,” said Stein last week. “The IRA clean energy tax credits are especially critical. Repealing these credits would cost the state tens of thousands of jobs by 2030, and billions of dollars in investment that is ready to be made.” 

The bill would undo tax credits which have led to 16,300 jobs and $20.4 billion in investments in the state, according to the nonprofit Electrification Coalition. 

Stein Emphasizes Importance of Clean Energy for Business

“Companies make investments based on policy, and there has to be certainty, there has to be settled expectations, or else they do not know how to invest,” Stein told reporters at the Institute for Emerging Issues forum titled “Future Energy Forward.” 

According to data compiled by Atlas Public Policy and Utah State University, clean energy tax incentives contained in the Inflation Reduction Act have helped North Carolina attract $23 billion in investment. Forty-seven new facilities in the state, including the massive new Toyota battery plant, could create about 20,000 new jobs, their data show. 

Crucial Target for Protecting Clean Energy Action

North Carolinians are deeply dissatisfied with our state’s House Republican delegation, who all voted for this terrible bill. Their votes against clean energy were especially irrational since many of the most economically important clean energy jobs investments in our state are located in their districts, directly benefiting their constituents. 

As the action moves now to the Senate, North Carolina is one of the most “crucial state targets” for clean energy advocacy, in part because of Sen. Thom Tillis. By the numbers, Tillis is one of the most vulnerable incumbents up for re-election next year. If he is to have any hope of winning a significant number of swing voters, he must fix or successfully oppose this bill.

Fight for Clean Energy in NC

To defeat this attempt, we only need four more Senators to oppose the legislation. Fight for clean energy by telling Senator Tillis to protect the retention of clean energy tax credits and investments! Every action we take helps to ensure a sustainable, equitable future for generations to come.

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