In his first State of the Union address, President Joe Biden continued to emphasize that energy efficiency, renewable energy, and mitigating climate change are priorities for his administration. The remarks come soon after the release of a new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report that warned that climate change is accelerating must faster than our ability to adapt to it.
During his speech, the president underscored the importance of creating good clean energy jobs and withstanding the “devastating effects of the climate crisis.” He touted his plan to install 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations, and again asked Congress to provide tax incentives to make buildings more energy efficient and provide tax credits for investment in clean energy. “Let’s provide an investment and tax credit to weatherize your home and your business to be energy efficient and get a tax credit for it; double America’s clean energy production in solar, wind, and so much more; lower the price of electric vehicles, saving another $80 a month that you’ve not going to have to pay at the pump,” he said.
The Alliance to Save Energy released the following statement, praising Biden for his energy priorities: “We were thrilled to see President Biden highlight both the economic and environmental benefits of investing in energy efficiency. Our nation is facing a defining moment for our energy system and the economy, and as the president said, our success will be measured in how we act on this moment to ‘change the standard of living for hard working folks.’
“Expanding access to energy efficiency, such as through tax credits and weatherization services for your home or business, is more important than ever to curtail the impact of rising energy prices while also combatting climate change. We urge prompt passage of the energy efficiency proposals under consideration in Congress today and look forward to working with lawmakers and the administration to get it done.”
Though Biden’s Build Back Better plan, which included much of his climate-focused priorities, remains stalled in Congress, last December, Biden signed an executive order to move the government to net-zero emissions facilities in the government by 2045.
Greg Zimmerman is editor, FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
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