After four years of climate change denial and fossil fuel obsession from the Trump administration, solar and climate advocates will have an ally in the White House.
President- and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris made climate change and green jobs the cornerstones of their campaign from the start. Biden’s climate plan is the most ambitious of any president to date — he wants to put the country on a path to carbon-free electricity production by 2035 and net zero emissions as a whole by 2050.
“While it’s important to note that support for clean energy is bipartisan, we are excited about the future of clean energy under the Biden/Harris administration,” said Suzanne Leta, director of market policy and strategy for SunPower. “The president- and vice president-elect both advocated consistently for solar energy on the campaign trail. They appreciate the key role solar and storage will play in tackling climate change, delivering low-cost energy to people across the country and creating stable, well-paying jobs.”
Biden has also made his clean energy commitment clear with his administration nominees. He tapped former EPA Chief Gina McCarthy to spearhead domestic climate policy and collaborate with global climate czar John Kerry; former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg to head the Department of Transportation and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to lead the Department of Energy.
“With these picks, President-elect Biden is acting on his campaign promise to prioritize climate action,” said Environment America’s acting president Wendy Wendlandt in a statement. “All three bring a wealth of experience and qualifications to help the Biden administration resolve climate issues through shifts in clean energy and transportation policy. Each is demonstrably committed to building a cleaner, healthier future for all Americans — all of which is necessary to create smart, comprehensive and durable solutions.”
SEIA recognized the new administration’s commitment to green jobs and climate change efforts as well. The advocacy group published a suite of policies and executive actions it’s asking President-elect Biden and the newly elected Congress to act on during their first 100 days in office.
“Our 100-day agenda aligns with President-elect Biden’s vision to build back better, and represents a critical opportunity to meet the moment of the climate era with equity and justice at the forefront,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA, in a press release.
The renewable industry has reason to be hopeful for passing strong solar legislation as President-elect Biden takes office with Democratic control in both the House and Senate.
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