Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor:
I am writing to follow up on the Climate Dispatch article regarding the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This is important to me as eliminating clean energy incentives backed by the IRA would delay the United States and CA in reaching greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, hinder domestic economic growth, and reduce the security of our local natural environments.
Investors are seeking opportunities in sustainable sectors, and the removal of the IRA could result in a retreat from clean energy projects and diminish local economic growth. 2024 USA power generation increased by 2.9%, with a 9% growth in renewable power generation, three times the growth of natural gas! Clean energy jobs are among the fastest-growing sectors, providing stable employment and economic resilience. This can be seen at work locally with Liberty Utilities targeting net-zero goals by 2050. Let’s not let loose this momentum.
At the federal level, IRA tax credits for households, businesses, and renewable energy project owners allow us to make choices that are climate-positive and support new manufacturing for renewables. US factories can now produce more than five times as much solar module capacity as before the passage of the IRA in 2022.
The IRA supports state climate-positive initiatives through the adoption of clean energy. In 2024 CA added a program to procure offshore wind, geothermal energy, and long-duration energy storage to achieve higher GHG emissions reduction targets. This means healthier local environments for future generations to enjoy the natural beauty of CA.
Let’s work to keep clean energy incentives that bolster local jobs and energy security. Support the IRA and clean energy technologies that lower energy costs and provide savings that can be reinvested in local needs such as affordable housing and economic growth.
Write to our local members of Congress: Kevin Kiley, Alex Padilla, and Adam Schiff. Join town halls and Tahoe’s own Citizen Climate Lobby. Voice your bipartisan opinion to keep critical policies in place.
Tica Lubin,
Tahoe City
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