Experts share how new federal policies can save Americans money, reduce pollution
BOSTON —The Inflation Reduction Act includes myriad incentives for Americans to invest in electrifying their homes and cars. But as with any major legislation, some of the specifics are complex. To help people take advantage of the new policy’s tax credits, Environment America Research & Policy Center and U.S. PIRG Education Fund co-hosted a webinar Thursday.
Analysis shows that electrifying the vast majority of America’s residences and commercial spaces by 2050 could reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from the residential and commercial sectors by about 306 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2050. That is the equivalent of taking off the road about 65 million of today’s cars— almost three times the number of vehicles in Texas.
“The tax credits are the biggest moves the federal government has made to help Americans power their lives with clean renewable energy,” said Environment America Research & Policy Center’s Senior Director of the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy Johanna Neumann, who moderated the webinar. “With all the federal financial incentives available, it’s more affordable than ever to upgrade the technology in our homes or what we drive. Those actions won’t just lower our energy bills or how much it costs to fuel our vehicles — they’ll also eliminate a major contributor to climate change and simultaneously improve our air quality.”
In addition to the hosts, the event featured Gina Coplon-Newfield from the U.S. Department of Energy, experts from Environment America’s state partners and experts from other research and advocacy groups.
“We can all make a difference to help solve the climate crisis, from electrifying homes to getting an electric car — we can all slash energy costs while making our home and communities healthier,” said Coplon-Newfield. “Thanks to the new tax credits available from President Biden’s clean energy law, the Department of Energy is helping consumers take climate solutions in their own hands starting now.”
Breakout sessions during the webinar covered heat pumps, solar and storage, electric vehicles and energy efficiency. All of these options reduce people’s reliance on fossil fuels.
“We’ve all grown up with gas-powered cars and many of us have grown up with gas stoves and heat, so even when we know that ‘going electric’ is the right and smart thing to do, it can be daunting,” said U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s Environment Campaigns Director Matt Casale, who led the “Launching your home electrification journey” breakout session. “However, given the growing availability of renewable technology and the tax credits available through the Inflation Reduction Act, it’s much easier to transition from powering homes and vehicles with fossil fuels to powering them with electricity, which increasingly comes from clean sources.”