The U.S. Senate confirmed Russell Vought as the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) yesterday. While he was still the unconfirmed OMB nominee, Vought orchestrated a sweeping freeze on federal grant and loan payments. This funding freeze halted investments authorized by Congress, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act. The pause also impacted public service programs that the country depends on. 

In these comments, BGA provides a list of recommendations for improving OSHA’s Proposed Heat Standard. January 29, 2025 BGA applauds the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in its progress towards establishing a first-ever federal protective heat standard for reducing heat-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the workplace. With global temperatures rising— and 2024…

President Donald Trump today issued an executive order repealing several Biden-era climate measures, efforts to address systemic racial and environmental injustice, efforts to position the nation as a leader in the clean vehicle sector, and protections for civil servants.

President Joe Biden will deliver a farewell address to the nation this evening as his term as president of the United States comes to a close. Over the course of the past four years, some of the Biden-Harris administration’s most significant achievements are:  The Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate action in U.S.…

The Contra Costa Refinery Transition Partnership (CCRTP) released a new report detailing the urgent need for proactive planning to prepare for future refinery closures in Northern California’s Contra Costa County. The report identifies 31 actionable policy recommendations aimed at ensuring a just and equitable transition for workers and frontline communities while addressing economic, environmental, and public…

PARTNERSHIP STRUCTURE The CCRTP is made up of nine core organizations, five of which have voting power within the partnership (*)—reflecting their direct representation of impacted frontline workers and communities—with the other three organizations acting as non-voting supporting organizations: United Steelworkers District 12* United Steelworkers Local 5*  United Steelworkers International Union   Asian Pacific Environmental Network*  UA…

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has a critical role to play in shaping the future of the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) industry. By leveraging its procurement power, DOE  can establish a strong precedent for a pro-worker, equitable CDR industry that benefits climate, communities, and the workforce. We urge the DOE to prioritize these considerations as it develops any CDR procurement strategies. The BlueGreen Alliance welcomes the opportunity to contribute to discussions on catalyzing direct air capture technology commercialization. Our recommendations can be read in this comment letter.

The Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) was signed into law by President Biden as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)—also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. BABA strengthens and expands “Buy America” requirements for federally financed infrastructure projects. Specifically, it requires that the iron, steel, construction materials, and manufactured products used in all federally assisted infrastructure projects be produced in the United States. For American manufacturers, the passage of BABA means that billions of dollars are ready to be spent on the products you produce in the United States. Read our User Guide to learn more and take advantage of this new opportunity.

In 2024, BlueGreen Alliance California (BGA CA) continued its leadership in clean manufacturing and environmental stewardship, supporting a variety of bills this legislative session. Given the tough budget year, we’re proud of the strides BGA CA and our partners were able to make, including saving the High Road Training Partnership program.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announcedinvestments from the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act to lower energy costs and grow clean power across nine states. The $3 billion funding from the New Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program will go to rural energy cooperatives in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Minnesota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the final rule on the 45X tax credit, a production tax credit meant to grow domestic manufacturing for solar, wind, batteries, and critical materials. Federal investments and tax credits in manufacturing and climate action—made possible by the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act—have the potential to create 900,000 jobs by 2032. 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of 14 projects to address critical clean energy supply chain vulnerabilities and grow domestic clean energy manufacturing in 12 states. The funding from the Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program will help revitalize communities affected by coal mine or coal power plant closures.