Press Releases & Statements / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
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.
Press Releases & Statements / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
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.
Press Releases & Statements / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
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.
Blog / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
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!
Press Releases & Statements / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
Today, BlueGreen Alliance and Third Way hosted a summit at the Hamilton Live to discuss the future of Buy Clean and industrial policy and the importance of worker-centered policies. Policies that will not only help create a more affordable, reliable, and secure clean economy, but will create good-paying jobs for middle-class families in every American community.
Testimony & Comments / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
The BlueGreen Alliance’s Minnesota Policy Organizer Abby Hornberger testified in support the inclusion of SF 2156 (Murphy), the Buy Clean Buy Fair Minnesota Act, in the Minnesota State Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Committee’s omnibus bill.
Testimony & Comments / Infrastructure and Community Resilience
As DOE develops its demand-side strategy, it should view it as part of a holistic industrial strategy. Awards should reflect the value-added role of demand-side support for target sectors and technologies as part of a comprehensive strategy. We urge DOE—and other relevant agencies and offices—to publicly outline such a strategy after incorporating stakeholder input, building on DOE’s Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap.
Testimony & Comments / Buy Clean
A federal Buy Clean policy that prioritizes transparency, invests in innovation, and ties public dollars to low-carbon emissions materials holds the promise of transforming some of the most pollution-intensive and economically vital sectors in our economy—allowing us to confront climate change while rebuilding the middle class and advancing environmental justice.
Press Releases & Statements / Buy Clean
The White House yesterday hosted a convening with National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory, and leaders from 20 states to discuss advancing Buy Clean initiatives. Alongside the convening, the White House released a fact sheet on Buy Clean efforts. The fact sheet outlines new federal support, private sector commitments, and state and local action.
Press Releases & Statements / Buy Clean
Today the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Climate Policy Office (CPO) will announce new actions under the Federal Buy Clean Initiative to spur the development of low-carbon construction materials. Ahead of the announcement, the BlueGreen Alliance released a new white paper entitled Buy Clean: A Tool to Create Good Jobs, Cut Pollution, and Renew Manufacturing.