ICYMI: Senator Reverend Warnock Takes Fight to Protect Georgia’s Clean Energy Jobs to Savannah

Senator Reverend Warnock returned to his hometown to continue his public pressure campaign urging Congressional Republicans to protect clean energy tax credits fueling an expected 42,000 Georgia clean energy jobs

Senator Warnock released a comprehensive report on how Georgia risks losing up to 42,000 good-paying jobs if Washington Republicans repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Clean Energy Tax Credits

Senator Warnock was instrumental in securing these clean energy tax credits which supercharged the clean energy economy and is expected to create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs in Georgia

Since the tax credits were put into place, 51 clean energy projects worth over $28 billion have come to Georgia, largely centered in rural communities

These jobs and investments are under threat from a Republican-controlled Washington

Uncertainty over the IRA’s future and its incentives could lead to billions of lost investments and thousands of lost jobs, hurting Georgia’s workers, families, and economy

ICYMI from Savannah Morning News: U.S. Senator Warnock takes fight for clean energy tax credits to Savannah

Above: Senator Reverend Warnock uplifts his new report on Georgia’s clean energy economy during a press conference in Savannah

Photo credit: Richard Burkhart, Savannah Morning News

Savannah, GA – This week, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) brought the fight to protect up to 42,000 good-paying Georgia jobs to his hometown of Savannah, Georgia. The Senator continued to speak out against Congressional Republicans’ attempts to claw back clean energy tax credits, which would put thousands of jobs and billions in investments at risk.

Senator Warnock held a press conference at the Georgia Ports Authority headquarters to uplift his new report that details how Georgia risks losing up to 42,000 good-paying jobs if Washington Republicans repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Clean Energy Tax Credits. The report found Georgia’s clean energy economy has led the nation following the 2022 passage of these tax credits while also providing a stark warning on the risks posed to Georgia’s clean energy jobs and project investments amid the economic uncertainty being fueled by the reckless actions and threats of the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans.

The report and Savannah press conference comes as House Republicans laid out plans on Monday to phase out clean energy tax credits, slash spending on electric vehicles and renewable energy, and claw back other climate-related funds as part of the Washington Republicans’ attempt to pass a broad tax bill that would cut federal investments in our nation’s clean energy economy, alongside other cuts across the federal government, in order to offset a tax cut for the wealthiest earners in America.

Senator Warnock’s leadership was critical in crafting and passing the landmark climate legislation in 2022. Since these tax credits were signed into law, clean energy jobs and investments exploded across the country, but nowhere was that growth more potent than in Georgia. In less than three years, clean energy businesses have announced 51 new projects worth over $28 billion in Georgia. Investment in clean energy manufacturing, including batteries, solar panels, and electric vehicles has increased by a factor of ten. All these gains are at risk if Washington Republicans repeal the Clean Energy Tax Credits.

Coverage of Senator Warnock’s Savannah press conference can be found below:

Savannah Morning News: U.S. Senator Warnock takes fight for clean energy tax credits to Savannah

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock took his fight to save clean energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act to Savannah on Monday, holding a press conference touting the impacts of IRA credits to Georgia’s economy.

Warnock’s office released a report last week that claimed the state is at risk of losing as many as 42,000 jobs and nearly $28 billion in investment if IRA credits were cut. The senator’s push comes as the U.S. Congress works through its budget reconciliation process, where some tax credits may face repeal.

During the press conference Monday, which was held at the Georgia Ports Authority headquarters, Warnock put the onus on Georgia’s federal Republicans to fight for the credits.

“Now it’s up to Georgia’s congressional Republicans to protect these clean energy credits,” Warnock said. “Let’s choose the people over politics. Let’s choose jobs over the games that so often get played in Washington, D.C. Let’s protect these jobs and protect these investments.”

Select House Republicans sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee leadership in early March advocating for “targeted and pragmatic” changes to energy-related tax code. Rep. Buddy Carter, who represents Georgia’s coast and recently announced a bid for the U.S. Senate, signed onto the letter.

Warnock said Monday that he is fighting to retain all of the IRA’s credits, citing statistics from his office’s report that every $1 in federal investment from the IRA yields another $4.50 in private investment. “We ought to keep all of them,” Warnock said. “Who are we compromising with, ourselves?”

Savannah Morning News: U.S. Senator Warnock’s report says manufacturing jobs at risk if IRA is repealed

Sen. Raphael Warnock wants the entire U.S. to know that Georgia has shown that “the future is green, the future is clean.”

Unless, that is, the U.S. republican-led Congress decides to cut clean energy tax credits created by the President Joe Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Congress is set to go through its budget reconciliation process in coming months and Warnock has sounded the alarm with a report issued last week stating Georgia could be at risk of losing as many as 42,000 jobs and nearly $28 billion in investment if IRA credits were cut.

Warnock believes Georgia has shown his republican colleagues that the U.S. does not have to “decide between the economy and the environment, that you can work on both of those things.”

Warnock feels that his office’s report clearly outlines the consequences if the tax credits were to go away, especially for Georgia, which he called “the big winner” from the IRA.

A statement from his office’s report reads, “Overall post-IRA business investment in Georgia clean energy manufacturing has totaled nearly $16.4 billion, which is over 10 times greater than clean energy manufacturing investment in the previous two years.”

WTOC: Senator Warnock pushes back against proposed repeal of clean energy tax credit

Congressional Republicans are considering repealing Clean Energy tax credits as a part of their proposed budget package. According to a new report by Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, nearly 42,000 jobs could be lost statewide if this happens.

“I‘m here in my hometown of Savannah, Georgia to speak out about efforts to eliminate up to 42,000 good-paying jobs right here in Georgia. That includes 7,400 jobs right here…,” said Senator Raphael Warnock. The Senator said that without them, Georgia workers, families, and the economy would all take a hit.

“It’s a job killer. It’s pure and simple. And, you know, I just hope we will center the people rather than the politics because the economics is clear,” said Senator Warnock.

Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. It was meant to create and expand clean energy programs statewide.

According to the senator’s report, Georgia has been the top beneficiary of the IRA’s clean energy incentives. He’s calling out his republican colleagues in Congress, who are looking to repeal these tax credits.

“Georgia Republicans have a choice to make. These credits have benefited their districts more than blue districts. And I think the people of Georgia are waiting to see if they are going to stand up for them,” said Senator Warnock.

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