One year ago, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law. Since then, its historic climate and clean energy investments have invigorated clean energy economies in states across the country and taken major strides toward achieving America’s climate goals. And with the Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative, a record amount of that funding is projected to make its way to disadvantaged communities who have faced historic disinvestment and disproportionate health impacts. Billions of dollars have already been funneled directly to local governments and states are introducing and passing clean energy policies at record pace to take full advantage of the IRA’s programs. 

In Michigan, the IRA has already brought in over $21 billion to the state’s burgeoning clean energy economy and fostered the creation of nearly 16,000 new jobs—and that’s just in its first year. Recent modeling from 5 Lakes Energy predicts that by passing clean energy legislation this year to help take full advantage of the IRA, those new jobs are projected to increase tenfold. That means nearly 160,000 new, good-paying jobs that will enable local businesses to expand their operations and boost the economies of their communities. And that’s on top of saving households an average of $145 a year in energy costs and diversifying the state’s energy grid to provide safer homes, cleaner air, and longer lives for Michiganders. 

“In just the past 365 days, Michigan has been a national leader, showing other states how it’s done by taking advantage of the federal funding opportunities in the IRA to grow its clean energy economy and create thousands of new jobs. But there is still more work to do,” said Courtney Bourgoin, Evergreen Action senior midwest policy and advocacy manager. “To continue to reap the benefits of the IRA, the state must enact a package of climate and clean energy bills when session reconvenes this fall. If it does, the state stands to receive $7.8 billion more in investment by 2050—more than double what it would otherwise. Now is the time for Michigan to leverage federal investments from the IRA and secure its clean energy future.”