August 12, 2022
STATEMENT BY DEAN OF THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE MARC R. PACHECO ON THE HISTORIC PASSAGE OF FEDERAL CLIMATE LEGISLATION BY CONGRESS
“I am very pleased to have witnessed fantastic news out of Washington D.C. this week with our United States Congress officially passing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: comprehensive federal legislation that includes critical provisions relative to seizing the economic benefits of a robust clean energy economy and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions fueling our global climate emergency. This historic piece of legislation will provide $369 billion for climate and clean energy initiatives - investments estimated to help create 555,000 clean energy jobs and reduce emissions 40% below 2005 levels by 2030.
“Like all compromises, this legislation does not have everything that everyone wanted with respect to the rapid reduction of fossil fuel emissions. Nevertheless, both in terms of demonstrating symbolic leadership on climate and allocating historic resources capable of achieving meaningful progress, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is a major victory for the American clean energy transition.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude and congratulations to our federal delegation in the United States Senate and House - Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Richard Neal, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Lori Trahan, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Seth Moulton Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, & Rep. Bill Keating. I would also like to give a very special thank you to a number of climate leaders and pioneers who in particular deserve recognition for their contributions to our progress on the issue of climate change: Former U.S. Vice President & Climate Reality Project Founder Al Gore, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate & Former Secretary of State John Kerry, United States Senator Ed Markey, United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, White House National Climate Advisor & former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, the entire Biden-Harris Administration, and Climate Reality Project leaders like Keith Bergman who has trained thousands and thousands of climate leaders across the world. I would also like to thank all the advocacy organizations both here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and at the national level who have been instrumental to the promotion and the advancement climate and clean energy progress.
“The successful passage of climate policy within the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is undoubtedly a testament to the tireless efforts of these individuals and organizations who have consistently urged our federal leaders to take bold climate action. It is also a testament to how difficult achieving long-overdue climate progress at the federal level, after all these years, unfortunately remains. Without the invaluable contributions of such dedicated individuals and advocates, the passage of this legislation – which contains a total of $369 billion supporting the expansion of clean energy tax credits, green bank financing, and other critical policy solutions designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions – simply would not have been possible.
“We have a long way to go, but this bill is a crucial first step. We are on the cusp of a sustainability revolution and I am confident decisive federal action such as the legislation passed by Congress this week will help showcase the substantial benefits that accompany a swift and strategic clean energy transition by creating new jobs, improving public health, and establishing energy sector independence - all while lowering emissions to prevent the worst effects of our ongoing climate crisis.”