President Biden’s Clean Energy Agenda Boosts Job Growth and Economic Resilience

Since taking office, President Biden has dedicated himself to building a clean energy economy that provides good-paying, union jobs for American workers. Through Investing in America, the largest climate and clean energy investment in history, the United States has seen a boom in clean energy production and deployment. This boom has attracted hundreds of billions of dollars in private investment and generated more than 270,000 new clean energy jobs.

These investments are reaching areas President Biden has pledged not to leave behind, including historic energy communities and economically distressed regions, providing job opportunities and economic benefits, especially for workers without a college degree.

A key piece of that progress is the Inflation Reduction Act, which cements President Biden’s commitment to being the most pro-worker, pro-union president in history. For the first time, strong protections and worker incentives are tied to climate and clean energy tax credits. Analysts predict the Inflation Reduction Act could create 1.5 million additional jobs over the next decade. The bill ensures that jobs building wind farms, installing solar panels, and constructing hydrogen and carbon capture facilities pay well and support pathways into clean energy by allowing workers to earn while they learn.

Today, the Treasury Department and the IRS announced final regulations implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s enhanced credit for prevailing wages and registered apprenticeship. Clean energy projects that meet these provisions will receive a fivefold increase in clean energy tax credits, providing significant incentives for developers to pay prevailing wages and hire registered apprentices. This move ensures workers receive fair wages and opportunities to advance their careers in the clean energy sector.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su emphasized that Project Labor Agreements are a best practice for large construction projects. These agreements, which are pre-employment collective bargaining agreements, provide strong worker protections and a steady supply of skilled labor, helping projects complete on time and on budget.

The final regulations provide assurance that clean energy developers and workers will fully benefit from President Biden’s historic investments in clean energy. To protect workers and ensure compliance, the IRS has published a fact sheet to educate workers on prevailing wage and recorded internship standards for clean energy projects. Additionally, the IRS and the Department of Labor have announced a collaboration under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance education, public outreach, and compliance efforts.

These announcements build on the administration’s broader efforts to create strong pathways to good-paying, union jobs in clean energy. Initiatives include the Labor Department’s interactive map of more than 1,000 planned clean energy projects, the launch of Investing in America Workforce Hubs to connect workers with jobs in future industries, and a variety of workforce development programs tailored to clean energy sector needs.

For example, the Augusta Workforce Hub has formed partnerships to build workforce development efforts for the energy and battery sectors. Similarly, the Pittsburgh Workforce Hub has announced new job opportunities and training paths in clean energy. The Michigan Electric Vehicle Workforce Hub is supporting the transition to electric vehicles, ensuring that union workers and communities benefit from the change.

Vice President Kamala Harris recently announced efforts to help small and midsize automakers and workers lead the future of electric vehicles. The Columbus Workforce Hub is also working to train thousands of students and skilled workers for clean energy jobs.

In addition, the Department of Energy (DOE) has launched several initiatives, including the Community Workforce Readiness Accelerator for Major Projects, encouraging grant and loan recipients to enter into workforce development agreements. DOE, in partnership with the Department of Labor and the AFL-CIO, has launched the Battery Workforce Initiative to support training programs for battery manufacturing positions.

DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are conducting a national assessment of energy workforce needs to forecast the impact of clean energy investments on employment and identify gaps in the workforce. A federal advisory committee, the 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board, is also developing strategies to meet workforce needs in the rapidly changing energy sector, with a report due soon.

These comprehensive actions underscore the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to building a robust clean energy economy that provides sustainable, well-paying jobs, strengthens economic resilience, and drives the transformation toward a greener future.

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