Clean electricity is essential to America’s response to the climate crisis. And reaching 80 percent clean power by 2030 is key to achieving the U.S. economy-wide goal of at least halving carbon pollution this decade. The U.S. took a historic step on clean energy investment in 2022, when Congress and President Biden enacted the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This critical climate legislation contains over $370 billion in investments towards building America’s clean energy economy.
But the work is far from over. To stay within reach of 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and address harmful pollution from fossil generation, the U.S. must:
- Set ambitious carbon pollution standards for new and existing power plants under the Clean Air Act, and set EPA pollution standards that reduce traditional air and water pollutants and improve public health;
- Expand transmission capacity, speed interconnection, and create market parity for clean energy at FERC
- Implement the Inflation Reduction Act effectively, with timely federal guidance on the IRA’s tax credits and grant programs and the distribution of funds in a way that maximizes carbon reductions and equitable economic opportunity
- Advance climate action at the state level, including through accelerated 100 percent clean electricity and pollution standards that align with 80 percent clean power by 2030 and heightened oversight of polluting utilities
This paper from Evergreen and NRDC outlines an updated roadmap toward 80 percent clean power by 2030 and 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 now that the IRA is law. With two years remaining in his first term, President Biden must continue to pursue his agenda using standards, investments, and justice to tackle the climate crisis and build a thriving, just, and inclusive clean energy economy.