Adam Bingman, adam.bingman@sierraclub.org
Washington D.C. — Sierra Club is among 52 health, faith, environmental, and industry groups who are calling on Congressman Neal to go bold on incentivizing a just transition to a clean energy economy. As Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Neal will soon be marking up legislation in his committee and has the power to ensure that the historic $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill includes the strongest clean energy incentives possible. Such a bill should promote robust investment in solar, wind, offshore wind, energy storage, energy efficiency, clean transportation, community focused energy projects, the development of a domestic manufacturing supply chain for clean energy, and strong labor standards. These incentives can decarbonize our electricity grid, transportation and manufacturing systems, and help stave off the worst outcomes climate change could have on our communities from extreme climate disaster.
Congress must deliver transformational investments in climate action and infrastructure that will enable us to effectively tackle the climate crisis, create millions of family-sustaining jobs, and fight economic, racial, environmental, and gender injustice.
Melinda Pearce, Legislative Director for Sierra Club, issued the following statement:
“We don't need to read the IPCC “code red” report to know that the climate crisis is already here. This summer’s extreme weather and ever-intensifying storms like Hurricane Ida show us that we aren’t doing enough to address the climate crisis. As we look forward to infrastructure legislation, the long-serving Congressman Richard Neal, as Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, will have an outsized influence on the structure, size, and duration of the programs that will drive our transition to a just and renewable energy economy. Congressman Neal’s leadership on clean energy could enable our economy to truly build back better, creating good family-sustaining jobs in communities across the country while also tackling the climate crisis.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.