Claim: The Inflation Reduction Act is already unleashing clean energy’s potential

Question

"Six months in, the Inflation Reduction Act is already unleashing clean energy’s potential"

Answer 1

While the phrasing "unleashing clean energy's potential" is vague, it seems that what the article means by this is that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has led to an increase in jobs in clean energy. This is true.

First, an explanation of the IRA from the Environmental Protection Agency: the IRA contains "funding, programs, and incentives to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy." Forbes says, "the bill includes numerous investments in climate protection, including tax credits for households to offset energy costs, investments in clean energy production and tax credits aimed at reducing carbon emissions."

Multiple sources say that the IRA has led to increased green energy jobs: A 2023 CNBC article says that "since President Joe Biden signed the historic Inflation Reduction Act into law last August, companies have announced more than 100,000 clean energy jobs across the country." The article cites a report by Climate Power that found that "companies have announced more than 90 new clean energy projects in small towns and larger cities in the U.S., totaling $89.5 billion in new investments." World Economic Forum says, "In the six months since the IRA came into law, more than 100,000 clean energy jobs have been created in the US as a result of almost $90 billion invested."

Answer 2

This claim is true. The clean energy approach will develop new technologies that maintain energy security for the nation in an affordable manner, while eliminating air pollution from fossil fuel power plants. Over 9,500 jobs will be created in 15 states from 20 new clean energy projects announced in February alone. Senate Democrats released a list of clean energy projects that have been introduced. These projects include the use of battery plants, constellation energy, and solar energy. Climate and clean energy investments made by the federal government have already yielded more results than anyone could have anticipated after just six months. 

Sources: 

- FACT SHEET: The Inflation Reduction Act Is Already Unleashing A New Generation Of American Manufacturing

- The Hill

- Six months in, the Inflation Reduction Act is already unleashing clean energy’s potential

Comments

Sorry, are you citing the original article as the source of the fact check?

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@jalynnbugaj I'm seeing you source the The Hill's opinion piece two times and then Chuck Schumer's statement. It's best to find an unbiased, reputable source(s). For instance, the World Economic Forum recently published a piece about the IRA's impact so far. WEF reported: "In the six months since the IRA came into law, more than 100,000 clean energy jobs have been created in the US as a result of almost $90 billion invested." The claim is a bit vague in its wording (re: unleashing potential) but you have plenty of resources to come up with an explanation that is less predictive about the future and which shows what's been done in the first six months of IRA being established.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/03/us-climate-bill-green-jobs/