CHICAGO – Four Illinois members of Congress highlighted the extraordinary gains made by three Illinois clean energy companies due in part to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the largest piece of federal legislation ever to address climate change, signed by President Biden on August 16, 2022. The IRA is creating good-paying jobs, lowering energy costs, and creating opportunity in communities that too often bear the brunt of pollution but up until now were kept from enjoying the economic benefits of the clean energy economy.
“Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Trajectory Energy has doubled in size to 30 employees,” said Jon Carson, Managing Partner of Trajectory Energy Partners. “We are creating opportunities and career paths with good-paying jobs for our team members across the state, and opportunities for communities that benefit from the clean energy solar projects we develop.”
In just under a year since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, clean energy businesses have announced or moved forward with more than 170,600 jobs across 44 states, according to Climate Power’s new report. The report details 272 new clean energy projects stimulated by tax credits and other major portions of the IRA.
“We want to build a clean energy economy that works for everyone, and one way to accomplish that goal in Illinois is emerging as a leader in building the batteries we need to store energy from wind and solar and power tens of thousands of electric vehicles. NanoGraf is doing that here in Illinois 7th Congressional District,” said Congressman Danny K. Davis.
“The U.S. battery supply chain issues brought on by unprecedented market demand will continue to grow, and NanoGraf is committed to onshoring key strategic components of the battery supply chain. We thank the members of Congress with us today who helped pass the IRA, and we look forward to leading Illinois’ quest to become the Silicon Valley of EV and battery production,” said Samir Mayekar, Co-Founder of NanoGraf and former Deputy Mayor of Chicago, who introduced this video of their new silicon anode factory in West Town.
“The Inflation Reduction Act is one of the largest single investments in working families in our country’s history. From lowering the costs of prescription drugs to combatting climate change, this bill puts the American people first,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “I am thrilled to see Illinois emerge as a clean energy leader, with innovative practices like community solar technology creating jobs and lower energy bills in the 2nd Congressional District.”
“At Reactivate, we develop, own, and operate renewable energy projects to improve the lives of people in low-to-moderate income and energy transition communities across the country like Ford Heights.” said Utopia Hill, CEO of Reactivate who introduced this video of the construction of Gooseberry Solar in Ford Heights, IL. “Our current portfolio of projects across the country are creating union jobs and well-paying jobs with family sustaining wages and benefits for a diverse workforce, building economic growth in underserved communities by contracting with local, minority and women-owned businesses, and providing direct savings from community solar to low-to-moderate income households to lessen the burden of high energy costs and keep more money in their pockets.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act not only made historic investments to grow domestic energy production and reduce carbon emissions, it empowered U.S. companies and workers to participate in the clean energy economy as well,” said Congressman Mike Quigley. “As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the IRA being signed into law, we are starting to see these investments create jobs, lower household energy prices, and ensure Illinois is a leader for our clean energy future.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act does the most we have ever done to create green jobs and make green energy affordable,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García. “In Latino and Black communities, these historic investments in health and climate priorities translate into cleaner air for thousands of my constituents and the possibility of new jobs that will benefit working class families.”
A livestream of the event is available here.
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The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) is made up of hundreds of environmental advocacy organizations, businesses, community leaders, consumer advocates, environmental justice groups, and faith-based and student organizations working together to improve public health and the environment, protect consumers, and create equitable, clean jobs across the state. After more than three years of community organizing and policy leadership, in 2021, ICJC was instrumental in helping pass the nation-leading Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).
info@ilcleanjobs.org