Climate Change in the Build Back Better Act
The Senate will consider and hopefully pass the Build Back Better Act this month. Here’s what in it to try to save our excessively warming planet.
$555 billion over 10 years. It is expected to cut climate emissions by 1/3rd to ½ estimates the Rhodion Group, and to reduce greenhouse gases by a billion tons of carbon dioxide.
· Investments in clean energy and climate resilience -- $220 billion
· Clean energy and electric car and truck tax credits -- $190 billion
· Clean fuel and vehicle tax credits -- $60 billion
· Other climate related tax benefits - $75 billion
· Infrastructure tax breaks -- $10 billion
The goals are to switch from gas powered cars and trucks to electric powered transport, to switch homes from gas and oil heating and gas cooking to home heating and cooking by electricity, and to switch energy production from fossil fuels to renewables like solar and wind and nuclear. The further vision is to build and rely on American manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines and storage batteries in the process of transitioning the economy.
These goals are achieved by substantial tax credits as opposed to mandates, by making the shift more affordable to the American consumers and businesses. For example, the tax credits for electric vehicles are designed to make them 15% less costly than gas powered cars and trucks. In the home, credits will be available to make the switch to electric heat pumps, electric ranges, electric water heaters, and upgraded breaker boxes.
To think about it from the perspective of American consumers and homeowners, “the framework will, for example, cut the cost of installing rooftop solar for a home by about 30%, and will lower the cost of a U.S.-made electric vehicle produced using American materials and union labor by $12,500.”
You are not mandated to buy a new electric vehicle or install solar panels on your roof; it will just be cheaper if you choose to do so, and there will be sufficient charging stations for your EV and improved transmission lines and battery storage for the generators of solar and wind power.
Government would purchase differently. For example, the bill would shift the entire USPS truck and car fleet from gas to electric. Similar strategies would be in place for public transit – alternative fueled buses -- and for the nation’s ports, like LA and Long Beach.
Please take a moment to encourage your Senators to vote for the Build Back Better Act.
References:
https://www.nytimes.com/article/build-back-better-explained.html
https://time.com/6121415/build-back-better-spending-bill-summary/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2021/11/19/climate-biden-spending-bill/
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/manish-bapna/house-passes-historic-climate-action-build-back-better-act
https://www.crfb.org/blogs/whats-houses-build-back-better-act
Prepared by: Lucien Wulsin
Dated: 12/7/21