A letter sent to President Biden on Wednesday urged him to ensure that funds from the climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) are allocated before he leaves office in January.
The authors of the letter, who include Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), have been strong advocates for the Biden administration’s environmental initiatives.
They previously co-sponsored the original Green New Deal resolution and joined the president at an Earth Day event this year to celebrate the formation of the American Climate Corps. Also signing the letter was Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), who succeeded Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in the House.
Senators and House members call for expedited funding from climate-focused legislation.
Support for the letter also came from Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and 46 other members of the House, including Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-Az.).
The letter emphasized the need for swift action, requesting that relevant agencies expedite the disbursement of vital climate and clean energy programs. These include agencies such as the White House, the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and others.
The signatories expressed their support for the outgoing administration in providing guidance on tax credits associated with the laws, noting that some guidance has yet to be released. Although the letter does not specify which credits are pending, there has been no guidance released for hydrogen power tax credits or electric vehicle charger credits.
While the letter does not explicitly mention President-elect Trump, it comes in light of his skepticism toward climate change and his criticism of renewable energy. Although Trump has not indicated plans to completely reverse the IRA, a group of vulnerable House Republicans suggested he consider maintaining some tax credits for renewables should a GOP trifecta emerge following the election.
The possibility of a complete repeal of the law could be a complicated endeavor that might face opposition due to potential job losses in Republican districts. Nonetheless, the White House and a Republican Congress could have greater flexibility in deciding how funds are allocated, including the potential to change eligibility requirements.
