Senators Daines and Sheehy and Representatives Zinke and Downing should protect the IRA’s clean-energy measures. Here’s why:
1) Lower Energy Costs: More renewable electricity on the grid lowers our rates. Repealing the tax credits results in 10% higher electricity rates and about a $142 annual increase in household electricity bills.
2) Job Creation and Investment: The new Administration’s funding freezes halt wind/solar/hydro/battery energy storage, transmission lines, and projects like Great Falls’ Calumet plant that create jobs and economic growth. Thanks to Senator Daines who helped unfreeze Calumet’s funding!
3) Local/State Benefits: Projects contribute millions to local/state tax collections and impact fee payments annually used for roads and schools and help position Montana for next-generation energy technology leadership.
4) Cleaner Air: Installing clean-energy appliances like heat pumps improves indoor/outdoor air quality. IRA-funded programs make them affordable and cut air pollution by 40% over the next 10 years.
5) Affordable Solar: Tax credits cover 30% of the cost for residential solar + storage systems, saving homeowners $3K-$5K.
6) Wildfire Prevention: We face increasingly frequent intense wildfires. IRA-funded programs help reduce overheating carbon pollution that exacerbates wildfires.
IRA funding comes from our taxes already paid. A repeal will waste taxpayer dollars on projects that have already broken ground. Ask our Members of Congress to join with other Republican colleagues who support these measures. We need a healthy and thriving domestic energy sector. See https://citizensclimatelobby.org/get-loud-take-action/.
Author: Staff
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