Offshore wind energy presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute to this mission if developed responsibly with high road labor standards, a domestic supply chain, equitable community benefits, and environmental protection that avoids, minimizes, and mitigates impacts to wildlife, ecosystems, and natural resources at each phase of development.

Sometimes it’s easy for the dysfunction on Capitol Hill to become overwhelming, overshadowing important work being done every day in communities across the nation to ensure that working families and people have what they need to thrive.

Establishing a safe and reliable nationwide network of EV chargers will require mass mobilization of, and investment in, the workers who will build, install, and maintain the EV chargers. With federal funds allocated from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, states have a unique opportunity to fund new green technology in communities but also ensure a skilled and localized workforce for the safe and effective construction of EV charging infrastructure.

When done right, offshore wind power will create thousands of high-quality, family-sustaining jobs in manufacturing, construction, operations and maintenance, and in the development of port facilities, transmission, and other associated infrastructure while also minimizing environmental impacts.

The Colorado BlueGreen Alliance Table worked together to ensure that quality climate solutions and licensed worker supports were the focus of a variety of bills this session. 

On June 6th, President Biden made waves among policy wonks and activists alike by invoking a Korean War-era law to revitalize manufacturing and take on the climate crisis. Citing authority under the Defense Production Act (DPA), the President gave a legal green light for the federal government to directly purchase five clean energy goods from U.S. manufacturers: solar panel parts, heat pumps, building insulation, green hydrogen inputs, and electric grid components.

Governor Jared Polis signed the Fund Just Transition Community and Worker Supports bill, allocating funds for just transition programs throughout coal communities in Colorado.

Gov. Jared Polis is expected to sign SB22-051, Policies To Reduce Emissions From Built Environment. The bill establishes a tax incentive for the installation of heat pumps in buildings and includes provisions requiring that certified contractors complete larger-scale projects. Additionally, a Buy Clean incentive, which encourages the use of building materials produced with lower emissions, will start in July 2024.

The U.S. House of Representatives last evening passed a resolution to grant congressional staff the right to organize and bargain collectively by a vote of 217-202, with 217 Democrats voting for and 202 Republicans against. The resolution was included in the rule for the Ukraine supplemental. 

This Policy Agenda presents BlueGreen Alliance California’s policy goals for 2022. Below, we describe
priority campaigns and practical demands of policymakers in the economic sectors within which we are
working. BGA CA stands ready to work with all government, non-profit, and private sector stakeholders to
advance these intersecting goals, and others, through legislation and regulation in 2022. We hope you will
join us.

Perhaps one of these tragic and largely preventable deaths has hit close to home for you—with a family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker who went off to work and never came home. But even if you don’t know someone personally who has died on the job, you can be sure someone has who provided you, your family, and community with the goods and services you needed, wanted, or relied on this past year. You may not know them by name but each one was loved and deserves to be remembered. And their loss serves as a reminder of the day’s full slogan: “Remember the Dead: Fight for the Living.”

The build out of clean energy and domestic clean technology manufacturing and supply chains is not only good for our climate and economy, but can support our energy independence and security. We have an opportunity to pass legislation that will address climate change, create and support good union jobs, and benefit workers and communities across the country. And we can do this while getting a massive return on investment and ensuring our competitiveness in the global energy economy.