Clean Energy for America Act an Essential Building Block for Creating US Jobs, Reducing Emissions

Statement by Johanna Chao Kreilick, President at UCS

Published May 26, 2021

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate Finance Committee—chaired by Sen. Ron Wyden—voted on the Clean Energy for America Act, which will be a critical component of the Senate’s American Jobs Plan. This bill would overhaul existing clean energy tax codes by incentivizing clean energy, energy efficiency and clean transportation through technology neutral tax credits aimed at reducing emissions.

Below is a statement by Johanna Chao Kreilick, president at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), on this legislation that advanced through committee today.

“The Clean Energy for America Act is vital for creating clean energy jobs and expanding electric vehicle use. The science shows we must take bold actions now if we are to stave off the worst climate change impacts. This legislation is an essential building block of a larger suite of policies that will be needed to drive major emissions reductions that get us to net-zero by midcentury. We commend Chairman Wyden for his leadership on this much needed bill that takes us one more step in the right direction.”

In an analysis released last month, UCS concluded that the Clean Energy for America Act would achieve the greatest increase in U.S. renewable energy capacity and the deepest reductions in both carbon emissions and toxic air pollutants, as compared to other options that were modeled.