he U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and White House today made a series of announcements that will shape the future of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the United States. Prominent among them is FHWA’s publishing of final minimum standards for agency-funded EV charging infrastructure, which will set the baseline for how states implement the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI).

The U.S. Treasury Department yesterday released guidance for $10 billion of credits for the advanced energy projects 48C(e) program. The department outlined the goals of the program, including expanding U.S. manufacturing capacity and quality jobs for clean energy technologies; reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. industrial sector; securing domestic supply chains for critical materials that serve as inputs for clean energy technology production; and driving investments into energy communities.

On Monday, February 13 the BlueGreen Alliance and WRTP | BIG STEP hosted a webinar presentation and panel discussion with labor leaders and contractors, researchers, and other workforce development leaders to discuss how to prepare Wisconsin’s workforce for implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. The webinar explored best practices to ensure quality standards are applied to infrastructure and clean energy projects and what support is still needed to maximize the impact of these two laws for workers and communities. 

Investing in methane mitigation will not just make workers and communities around the facilities safer and healthier, but will also generate and support quality, family-sustaining jobs. With this program, workers and communities will be protected, jobs will be created, and our nation will take another concrete step toward reducing air pollution and the emissions driving climate change.

When buildings are designed, built, and maintained to protect the health of people and the environment—and if the manufacturing of building products and materials create good-paying union jobs in the U.S.—then the wellbeing of people and communities will improve, especially for people of color. Building Clean works to increase the use of building products that are more efficient, less toxic, and manufactured in the U.S. We aim to improve the physical, environmental, and economic health of communities and promote a more equitable future for all.

In response to the president’s State of the Union address, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh.

Labor leaders and environmentalists in Minnesota today celebrated the signing of Senate File 4 (Frentz)/House File 7 (Long), a new law that will put the state on a path to 100% clean energy generation by 2040. Governor Walz signed the bill at a ceremony at the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation.

Congress and President Biden have passed major landmark legislation that will dramatically address climate change as well as racial and economic inequality. In addition to significant executive action, we expect President Biden to tout three pieces of legislation in his State of the Union address: the CHIPS and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act. These bills will support and create millions of good union jobs, rebuild and modernize our infrastructure, revitalize domestic manufacturing, and make our planet, our workers, and our communities safer and healthier.

Labor unions and environmentalists celebrated the passage of Senate File 4 (Frentz)/House File 7 (Long), a bill to put the state on a path to 100% clean energy generation by 2040, in the Minnesota Senate.

It was announced today that Brian Deese, the Director of the National Economic Council and a key advisor to President Biden, will be stepping down from his role in the administration. Following the news, the BlueGreen Alliance released a statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh: “As I said when he was appointed, there was no…

Midwest States Director Bree Halverson sent a letter urging Minnesota State Senators to support for the Senate File 4 (Frentz) / House File 7 (Long)—the 100% Clean Energy Bill. The group said is time for a 100% clean energy law in our state tied to labor and equity standards and highlighted a few impactful measures…

The Biden-Harris administration today announced the formation of a new partnership of federal government agencies, states, Tribes, local communities, nongovernmental organizations, water utilities, labor unions, and private companies working together to address the lead crisis.