The Oregon State Senate today approved a transformative “Buy America” bill (HB 3332), which will retool the state’s procurement practices and greater align state buying power with current robust federal domestic standards.

Today the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued guidance that will shape the first portion of $10 billion in funding for clean manufacturing under Section 48C of the federal tax code, also known as the Advanced Energy Project Credit. The Inflation Reduction Act revived and extended this section of the tax code to invest in the establishment and expansion of manufacturing facilities that produce clean energy technologies and reduce industrial emissions. Following the Treasury announcement, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement by Vice President of Manufacturing and Industrial Policy Ben Beachy.

Clean technology manufacturing is having a moment. In order to address climate change, we are going to need to produce a lot more solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, building efficiency products, electric vehicles, batteries, and other clean energy goods. Since passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, manufacturers have already announced more than $200 billion in private investment for solar, wind, energy storage, and electric vehicle projects in the U.S. The 48C tax credit is particularly well suited to build U.S. manufacturing capacity in specific segments of clean energy supply chains where we face the biggest gaps—gaps that are reflected in our new supply chain analysis.

The BlueGreen Alliance today celebrated the the Buy Clean Buy Fair Minnesota Act becoming law. The components of the bill were included two omnibus bills signed by Gov. Tim Walz.

Today the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a six-month pilot of new requirements for the procurement of low-embodied carbon (LEC) materials as funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The GSA received $2.15 billion to prioritize the purchase of LEC glass, asphalt, concrete, and steel, which collectively account for nearly half of all U.S. manufacturing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and represent 98% of the government’s purchased construction materials.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released guidance on the domestic content bonus credit for the clean energy tax credits included in the Inflation Reduction Act. For the first time ever, this additional credit will be available for developers using components and materials sourced directly from U.S. manufacturers. These credits are combined with historic supply-side investments in clean technology manufacturing.

We appreciate the opportunity to help shape the impact of this program on the workers and communities it is meant to support. We offer the following guiding principles, which shape our responses to questions from the Office of Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains (MESC). 

After concrete and cement, steel is one of the most commonly used materials in the world. With applications from construction and infrastructure to transportation and manufacturing, its necessity in modern society is unmistakable. BUT—there’s always a but—making steel is energy and carbon intensive. Without action, emissions from steelmaking are going to be a bigger problem. Until recently, no mechanism existed to incentivize or reward U.S. manufacturers for producing some of the cleanest steel in the world. Enter BUY CLEAN!

The road to net-zero emissions requires rapid acceleration of clean energy technology and low-carbon materials production. The Evergreen State is well-positioned to lead this clean manufacturing revolution and grow a new generation of high-road jobs. Washington is already home to world-class production facilities for materials like steel rebar and aluminum plate, and its strong climate commitments and highly-skilled manufacturing workforce are two cornerstones of a robust low-carbon industrial economy.

The House GOP seems dead set on cutting off their nose to spite their own face because they’re going to vote on what they’re calling the “Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023.” The name is truly disingenuous. If we actually named bills by what they did, this would be the “Ship U.S. Jobs Overseas Act.” 

This guide supports states seeking to maximize the employment and economic benefits that can accompany EV charging infrastructure provisions in the BIL and Inflation Reduction Act. 

The Washington State Legislature delivered the Washington Clean Manufacturing Leadership Act (2SSB 5269) to Governor Inslee’s desk, where it awaits his signature. 2SSB 5269 creates a statewide industrial strategy to strengthen Washington’s existing manufacturing base. The bill harnesses the more than $50 billion in industrial transformation investments in the Inflation Reduction Act to build a robust, low-carbon manufacturing economy in Washington State.