Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
LANSING, MI - Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $1.7 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to retool shuttered and at-risk manufacturing factories to produce electric vehicles (EVs). The funding will ensure almost a dozen factories across Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia will support the production of EVs.
This program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments in climate, clean energy, clean transportation, and other areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
In response to today’s announcement, Katherine García, director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign, released the following statement:
“The transition to electric vehicles in the US must be built with good-paying union jobs that support American workers, and this investment from the Biden-Harris administration will help bring that vision to life. The funding will help to deliver a variety of types of vehicles, including electric cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles.
“The workers and communities at the heart of the auto industry are at the forefront of the important work of manufacturing clean vehicles that reduce pollution, combat the climate crisis, and save money for families and businesses.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.