At least $25.7 billion in new US clean energy factories are in the works, thanks in part to the subsidies in Biden-Harris administration’s landmark climate law. Most of these projects — and the jobs that come with them — are in traditionally conservative states. Bloomberg calls these subsidies “a game changer” — the jobs they generate are winning over more conservative workers in the US to solar, batteries, and EVs.
“Everyone is trying to move forward. If we don’t change what we’re doing, we’re going to get left behind,” admits Wayne Lock, a quality engineer at a solar factory in Dalton, Georgia. This self-proclaimed “carpet capital of the world” has struggled with job diversification — at least until recently. Dalton now celebrates the biggest solar panel factory in the Western Hemisphere, and Qcells is ready to open a second plant in the area.
Congressional Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene muttered that “Earth warming and carbon is (sic) actually healthy for us.”
As is increasingly evident, some local economies are already benefiting from the energy transition — even if some of their elected representatives haven’t supported cleantech. And Georgia is not alone. Across the US, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is having ripple effects on economies, regardless of red state/ blue state affiliation. Lots of conservative workers are starting to experience the benefits of the transition to a clean energy economy.
The Impact of the IRA: Green Jobs, Conservative Workers
Democrats rallied and passed the most influential climate change legislation ever this year with the IRA. States that voted for former President Trump will receive most of the grants to promote battery and raw material production in the US with accompanying job growth.
The green jobs sector is robust and getting stronger by the year. In fact, the median salary in a green job is $76,530/year – 31% more than the national median salary for the US workforce at $58,260. Diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused green job training programs are upskilling green workers and promoting underrepresented talents.
Here are two examples of startups that have zoomed in on green jobs for all.
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) has a goal of creating an inclusive green economy for the people of Los Angeles to unlock innovation by working with startups to accelerate the commercialization of clean technologies. LACI runs a program for EV charger maintenance training. CEO Matt Petersen told CleanTechnica that the IRA is historic for clim …
Green Jobs Are Flourishing & Winning Over The Hearts Of Conservative Workers – CleanTechnica
