We Have an Infrastructure Bill. We Still Need Bold Climate Action Urgently

August 13, 2021 | 9:38 am
at least 10 firefighters standing in a long line in front of a burning landscape, the Dixie fire in California CALFIRE_Official/Flickr
Rachel Cleetus
Policy Director

The Senate has just passed an important infrastructure bill, with many much-needed provisions to upgrade and modernize our nation’s critical infrastructure (and a few provisions that aren’t so great). But this infrastructure bill does not do anywhere near enough on climate action, meaning Congress must immediately pivot to securing bold climate legislation as well. As is clear from the devastating wildfires, heatwaves, drought, and flooding being experienced by communities across the country—and the sobering IPCC report released earlier this week—we have no time to waste.

The infrastructure bill is an important start

The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which still must pass the House, includes several notable investments in climate-relevant areas. Foremost among these include investments in climate resilience, upgrading and expanding the electricity grid, public transit, passenger rail, building out electric vehicle infrastructure, advancing remediation of abandoned fossil fuel infrastructure, and supporting energy workforce development. There are also important investments in clean drinking water, the clean-up of legacy pollution, and energy efficiency and weatherization programs, which are essential for communities that have long been disadvantaged and borne the brunt of toxic pollution.

However, these investments fall well short of the scale that is needed to address the climate crisis in a bold, just, and equitable way. And at the same time, throughout the act, there remain numerous reminders of the long and powerful influence of the fossil fuel industry, with repeated prioritization of fossil fuel interests over true clean energy action.

This bill can only be considered a start. But still: an important start.

The Senate budget resolution lays the groundwork for bold climate action

Earlier this week, Senate Democrats also released the details of a $3.5 trillion budget resolution and an accompanying framework aimed at ensuring that federal investments align with pressing priorities of the people of the nation, including health care, child care, care for the elderly, jobs, education, environmental justice, and climate change. Congress has the power of the purse in our democracy; now we need Congress to align federal taxes and expenditures in a way that benefits all, not just an elite few.

This is Congress’ best chance to secure a broad and bold set of priorities, including many highlighted in President Biden’s American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. As the budget bill package moves toward final passage, we will be urging policymakers to ensure that the climate components are bold, just, and equitable, and commensurate with what this moment calls for.

Climate and clean electricity priorities we’ll be pressing for

The $3.5 trillion budget resolution is aimed at funding a range of much-needed priorities vital to the health and prosperity of our nation. Congress must ensure that these investments flow in an equitable manner, in line with the Justice40 Initiative announced by President Biden, so that at least 40 percent of the benefits flow directly to communities that have been historically disadvantaged. The details of the budget bill package are still being developed by relevant Senate committees and will be released in September, likely in the middle of the month. As part of that legislative package, we are pushing for significant climate resilience and clean energy investments, including:

1. Funding climate resilience programs at levels commensurate with needs. As devastating climate impacts mount around the country, we must do much more to prepare and protect communities ahead of time. Congress must significantly scale up funding for FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities program (BRIC) and flood hazard mitigation program, which helps support states, Tribes, and municipalities to proactively invest in projects to reduce their risks ahead of disasters, and for HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which can help communities invest in a climate resilience, and assistance for families displaced by climate impacts. It must also robustly fund a Civilian Climate Corps program. Investments in mapping and public health measures to protect communities from impacts like urban heat stress are also vital.

2. Fully funding clean energy tax incentives. Congress can keep the momentum going in the vibrant US renewable energy sector through targeted and improved use of the tax code. The budget bill should provide 10-year extension of clean energy tax incentives, with full refundability or a direct pay option to make the credits accessible even to people or organizations without tax obligations. The credits should include incentives for new clean energy generation, energy storage capacity, and high-voltage transmission-line buildout, with support for robust labor standards. A separate “Clean Energy Technology Accelerator”, included in the bill summary, should be funded robustly to help further drive adoption of clean energy, including funding for low-income solar. There should also be provisions—tax credits and financing—to drive more domestic clean energy manufacturing.

3. Launching a robust Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP). The Senate budget resolution proposes to include a Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP), which is aimed at providing incentives (and penalties) for utilities to clean up their electricity mix. The details of the CEPP program have not yet been publicly released. To be truly effective, it must be designed to deliver robust clean energy outcomes, including targets that will actually help drive down power sector emissions in line with our climate goals; avoid loopholes; ensure that it doesn’t enable a continued buildout of fossil fuel infrastructure, especially for natural gas; and not include poison pill provisions on environmental safeguards such as NEPA. The benefits of this program should flow to all communities, especially those that have been historically disadvantaged.

4. Supporting a fair transition for fossil fuel workers and communities. Congress needs to recognize that coal workers and communities can’t be left behind as we make the transition to clean energy. The  budget resolution indicates that the bill will include additional support for the Appalachian Regional Commission and Economic Development Administration’s “economic development and transition programs.” It is vital that the final bill package include robust support for a fair transition.

5. Investing in justice and jobs. The budget resolution also creates an opportunity for substantial investments in consumer rebates to weatherize and electrify homes in environmental justice communities, reductions in air and water pollution, the creation and preservation of affordable housing, replacement of lead drinking water pipes, and other environmental justice priorities. There are also significant opportunities for investments in education, job training and domestic manufacturing and supply chains which can boost job creation, including in places that have been left behind in the past. Now we have to urge policymakers to deliver on these opportunities in the final legislative package.  

Now, Congress must deliver

Political insiders are closely following details of how and whether a divided Congress can deliver on climate action. It’s enough to make one’s head spin.

Here’s the bottom line: wherever you live in the country, this year has continued the trend of extraordinary, costly and terrifying climate impacts—heat waves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and more. The evidence of the harm from our continued dependence on fossil fuels is clearly in front of our faces.

Equally clear is how a different future is tangibly within our reach, if only we put the right policies and investments in place. A future powered by clean energy, with benefits accruing directly to all communities, particularly those that have been left behind in the past. A world in which our communities and infrastructure are protected from and prepared for the ravages of climate change.  

The imperative to act NOW is crystal clear. Please add your voice and urge your policymakers to live up to this moment.

And Congress, please deliver on this powerful opportunity to secure bold, meaningful progress on meeting our climate goals. We have delayed action far too long already. Too much is at stake for your constituents and communities around the nation. We are counting on you.