Biden environmental policy saved lives and boosted clean energy jobs through the IRA program.
Two recent independent reports have highlighted the significant impact of the Joe Biden administration’s environmental policies, revealing that they are projected to save approximately 200,000 American lives from dangerous pollution in the coming decades. These findings underscore how Biden policies save lives through their focus on environmental protection. Additionally, these policies have sparked a substantial increase in clean energy jobs, underscoring the high stakes of the upcoming US presidential election.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a comprehensive climate bill passed by Democratic votes in Congress in 2022, has been a driving force behind the growth in clean energy employment. According to a new report by the nonpartisan business group E2, the first full year of the IRA’s implementation saw the addition of nearly 150,000 clean energy jobs.
The report indicates that the clean energy sector now employs nearly 3.5 million people in the United States, surpassing the total number of nurses nationwide. Notably, one million of these jobs are concentrated in the southern United States, a region traditionally dominated by Republican politics.
The growth rate of clean energy jobs outpaced overall US employment growth, with a 4.5% increase compared to the national average. These jobs now account for one in 16 new positions across the country. The report highlights that energy efficiency roles led the expansion, followed by increases in renewable energy jobs such as wind and solar, electric car manufacturing, and battery and electric grid upgrades.
Biden environmental policy saved lives through a focus on environmental protection and clean energy initiatives. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented 16 new regulations since President Biden took office in 2021. An analysis conducted by the Environmental Protection Network, a group founded by retired EPA staff, projects that these rules will prevent more than 100 million asthma attacks and save 200,000 lives by 2050.
The regulations aim to limit pollution from various sources, including cars, power plants, and oil and gas operations. Jeremy Symons, a former climate policy adviser at the EPA and co-author of the report, described the findings as “jaw-dropping,” emphasizing the life-saving impact of the EPA’s renewed efforts.
As the presidential election approaches, the future of these environmental policies hangs in the balance. The Republican nominee, Donald Trump, has vowed to “terminate Kamala Harris’s green new scam and rescind all of the unspent funds” if elected. Trump has accused the Biden-Harris administration of waging a “war on American energy” and called for an end to incentives promoting electric vehicle adoption.
In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris, representing the Democratic ticket, has promised to build upon the IRA, although specific details remain unclear. Harris has criticized Trump for “surrendering” on the climate crisis and in the US’s efforts to compete with China in clean energy manufacturing.
Bob O’Keefe, executive director of E2, emphasized that the IRA has catalyzed “an American economic revolution the likes of which we haven’t seen in generations.” However, he warned that “the biggest threats to this unprecedented progress are misguided efforts to repeal or roll back parts of the IRA, despite the law’s clear benefits both to American workers and the communities where they live.”
While a complete repeal of the IRA would require congressional approval, a potential Trump administration could slow down or even claw back funding allocated for clean energy projects. For example, the $500 million pledged for a green overhaul of a steel mill in Middletown, Ohio, could be at risk.
The EPA’s regulatory actions under Biden policies save lives by addressing air pollution and climate change. However, these regulations could face significant challenges under a new Trump administration. Trump has previously complained about environmental agencies making it “impossible to do anything,” suggesting a potential rollback of these life-saving measures.
The Environmental Protection Network’s analysis underscores the substantial public health benefits of the EPA’s recent rules. Jeremy Symons warned that attempts to dismantle parts of the agency or roll back environmental regulations, as proposed in conservative blueprints like Project 2025, would “put polluters in charge of air regulations and put millions of Americans at needless risk of cancer, heart disease and asthma.
In response to these reports, the Trump campaign criticized the Biden-Harris administration on inflation and what it called a “war on energy.” Campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated, “President Trump is the only candidate who will make America energy dominant again, protect our energy jobs, and bring down the cost of living for all Americans.”
An EPA spokesperson acknowledged the Environmental Protection Network’s report, stating, “EPA remains committed to protecting public health and the environment by implementing science-based pollution standards that address climate change and improve air quality for all Americans.
As the election approaches, the contrast between the two candidates’ approaches to environmental policy and clean energy could not be starker. Biden policies save lives and promote clean energy growth, as evidenced by the reports’ findings. The election outcome will likely have far-reaching consequences for America’s environmental future, public health, and position in the global clean energy economy.
With nearly 3.5 million Americans now employed in clean energy fields and projections of 200,000 lives saved through environmental regulations, voters face a critical choice. The decision between continuing the current administration’s environmental policies or reverting to a less regulated approach will shape the nation’s health, economy, and environmental landscape for years to come.
