Three Questions: Buy America Waivers and EV Chargers

Dec 05, 2023

Recently, the U.S. Senate passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) measure sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), which would overturn a recently finalized U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) waiver of Buy America policies for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. To unpack why this CRA is so threatening to U.S. manufacturing, BlueGreen Alliance Senior Policy Advisor Reem Rayef breaks down what Buy America policies do, why they are important, and how waivers can be strategically used to maximize the impact of such policies.

Our EV Future Should be Built by Union Workers

Oct 05, 2023

The environmental and labor partners of the BlueGreen Alliance understand that we don’t have to choose between good jobs and a clean environment.  We can and must have both.  It’s a false choice when companies claim they can’t pay workers family-supporting wages and at the same time manufacture EVs at a scale and pace to mee the climate moment.  Yes they can.

The Inflation Reduction Act’s Clean Energy Tax Credit Labor Standards Set the Stage for a Union Clean Economy

Sep 19, 2023

Our Appalachian Regional Organizer, Dan Taylor, and our Senior Policy Advisor, Brennen Cain, penned a blog for Reimagine Appalachia on how the clean energy tax credits included in the Inflation Reduction Act are setting the stage for a unionized clean economy. 

The Clean Economy Must be Unionized

Aug 31, 2023

This Labor Day, we sit at a pivotal moment for our nation. As urgency grows to reduce emissions and clean up our air and water, we need to consider the lack of foresight that brought us to this point and move forward in a smarter way.

The Inflation Reduction Act at One Year 

Aug 15, 2023

Last year, fueled by a desire to buck the status quo that has chipped away at workers’ health, safety, and rights for too long, the BlueGreen Alliance advocated tirelessly for a historic climate and jobs bill. We called for a bill based on the core tenet that the clean economy should work for working people, while protecting the environment and people’s health. It should also create good-paying, accessible jobs for all.

Just one year after being signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act is helping to build a clean economy that does all that. If it is implemented correctly and the jobs created are good, safe, union jobs for all workers.

Colorado Legislative Priorities 2023

Jul 21, 2023

The Colorado BlueGreen Alliance Coalition secured high road labor protections for a variety of clean energy solutions including landmark legislation to ensure that all large energy-sector projects will include labor standards in line with eligibility requirements outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act’s enhanced tax credits.

Five Reasons to Invest Federal Funding into Retrofits for Schools, Hospitals and other Public Buildings

Jul 05, 2023

The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)—previously known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—and the Inflation Reduction Act means more federal funding is available to upgrade and retrofit our public-serving institutions. In particular, Municipal, University, School, and Hospital (MUSH) buildings that serve as essential community assets represent a significant opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve health outcomes, build climate resilience, and support and create good, local jobs all while addressing equity and environmental justice. 

Aluminum, Revitalized: Strengthening the Backbone of our Clean Economy

Jun 27, 2023

As one of the most important metals for modern life, aluminum is all around us. From our bridges and high-rise buildings to our smartphones and kitchen appliances, this highly durable, lightweight, and conductive material is essential. It’s also a key ingredient for achieving our climate, jobs, and national security goals. As a primary component of solar panels, power lines, electric vehicles (EVs), and other clean technologies, aluminum is a building block of our clean energy solutions.1 At the same time, producing aluminum requires a tremendous amount of energy, and globally, the sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As the world produces increasing amounts of this material for the clean energy economy, we must simultaneously decrease the emissions from its production in order to achieve global climate targets.

Bridge the Gaps: How the Federal 48C Program Can Help Build a Strong Manufacturing Base for Clean Energy

May 30, 2023

Clean technology manufacturing is having a moment. In order to address climate change, we are going to need to produce a lot more solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, building efficiency products, electric vehicles, batteries, and other clean energy goods. Since passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, manufacturers have already announced more than $200 billion in private investment for solar, wind, energy storage, and electric vehicle projects in the U.S. The 48C tax credit is particularly well suited to build U.S. manufacturing capacity in specific segments of clean energy supply chains where we face the biggest gaps—gaps that are reflected in our new supply chain analysis.

The Platform that Boosted Washington State’s Workforce

May 11, 2023

The Washington BlueGreen Alliance took on its largest, most diverse advocacy effort yet for the 2023 Legislative Session. One of the principal themes in our agenda was the importance of developing the net-zero workforce that Washington will need to meet our state’s clean energy goals. The following bills—all of which passed the State Legislature this year—represent progress towards that goal in one of three ways.

Buy Clean and Steel’s Tricky “Standards” for Environmental Performance

May 09, 2023

After concrete and cement, steel is one of the most commonly used materials in the world. With applications from construction and infrastructure to transportation and manufacturing, its necessity in modern society is unmistakable. BUT—there’s always a but—making steel is energy and carbon intensive. Without action, emissions from steelmaking are going to be a bigger problem. Until recently, no mechanism existed to incentivize or reward U.S. manufacturers for producing some of the cleanest steel in the world. Enter BUY CLEAN!

Washington State Takes Charge of its Clean Manufacturing Future

Apr 28, 2023

The road to net-zero emissions requires rapid acceleration of clean energy technology and low-carbon materials production. The Evergreen State is well-positioned to lead this clean manufacturing revolution and grow a new generation of high-road jobs. Washington is already home to world-class production facilities for materials like steel rebar and aluminum plate, and its strong climate commitments and highly-skilled manufacturing workforce are two cornerstones of a robust low-carbon industrial economy.