Policy Matters Ohio
11/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/21/2024 10:31
Despite uncertainty, BIL & IRA still helping Ohio communities
Despite uncertainty, BIL & IRA still helping Ohio communities
Posted November 21, 2024 in Press Releases
Federal funding remains available for a clean energy future
Since 2021, the federal government has announced more than $16.5 billion in funding to Ohio through legislation whose future is now uncertain, according to a new report from Policy Matters Ohio.
The report describes how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) advance environmental justice and decarbonization efforts, directing funding to meet the unique needs of Ohio's rural, Appalachian, and urban communities, which have been especially harmed by inadequate transportation investments, extractive industries, air pollution, and racial redlining. Together, the BIL and IRA's programs cover an array of projects, including ones that lower energy costs for farmers, clean up brownfield sites and retrain workers in coal communities, and build out green infrastructure in urban neighborhoods.
State and local coalitions have already unlocked some of these opportunities, with projects that emphasize community-wide benefits and the creation of well-paying union jobs. "Ohio communities have seen significant investment from federal infrastructure and clean energy spending programs, coupled with private investments spurred by federal tax incentives," said report author Molly Bryden. "More BIL and IRA funding has been announced for projects in Ohio than in all but seven other states."
While raising the alarm about potential threats to BIL and IRA funding, the report also describes how local and state agencies and community groups can still tap into these resources. "Even in the worst-case scenario, BIL and IRA funding won't disappear overnight," Bryden said. "In the coming months, climate and environmental-justice coalitions can expand their capacity, and under the next administration, our representatives in D.C. should advocate for continuing this critical funding to create family-sustaining jobs while delivering cleaner air and a healthier environment."