ICYMI: Former GOP Rep. Greenwood Joined Pennsylvania Clean Energy Business Leaders, Labor, Experts to Discuss How Repealing Clean Energy Investments Will Mean Lost Jobs and Higher Costs 

Philadelphia, PA – On Friday, March 21st, Pennsylvania leaders joined Climate Power for a press call to discuss how repealing America’s clean energy investments would raise energy prices and threaten hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs. The fate of these investments are being decided in the next few weeks as the House Ways and Means Committee drafts the new budget bill. While some are advocating to put clean energy investments on the chopping block, these investments have strong bipartisan support including Republican Governors and 21 House Republicans who have spoken up for preserving clean energy investments.

Watch the event recording here.

Since new clean energy investments were signed into law in 2022, Pennsylvania’s clean energy projects have already spurred $1.33 billion in investment and helped create or move forward 4,692 good-paying clean energy jobs,jobs that could disappear if the House Ways and Means Committee cuts clean energy tax credits. 

“Clean energy is a win for our environment and our economy,” said Jim Greenwood, Former U.S. Congressman from Bucks County. “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.”

“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.” said Robbie Orvis, Senior Director of Modeling and Analysis at Energy Innovation. “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.”

“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,” said Jonathan Knauer, VP Policy and Market Strategy at ConnectDER. “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 U.S. energy grid is undergoing massive transformation and we are at the front lines of these changes,” said Jim Kurtz, President of RER Energy Group. “Unfortunately, we are already seeing early warning signs of what happens when clean energy is threatened. 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.” 

“Our state has a long and impressive history of organized labor,” said Ed Hill Jr., International Representative, Business Development at IBEW. “I’m proud to be part of this tradition, and even prouder to be a member of a union in a sector that’s helping revitalize our state’s economy. 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.”

###