The Biden Administration Makes Renewable power Number 2 source of electricity in the U.S., and Climbing

 

Biden entered the White House putting climate change and job creation from the expansion of a clean energy economy at the top of his agenda, an about-face from energy policy during the previous administration. At the time, renewable energy sources were already on the rise and the industry was optimistic about its future, especially buoyed by promises from the new president to invest trillions of dollars into clean energy development and research, and the global trend toward cleaner forms of power.

Across the Biden administration, agencies and officials have made the transition to green energy a central tenet, reinvigorating programs left dormant under Trump and accelerating approval of renewable energy projects, like offshore wind. Democratic lawmakers then passed landmark legislation, in the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce greenhouse gases driving climate change while supporting green power sources. That legislation included billions of dollars for new programs and lucrative tax incentives to boost technologies, like solar and wind.

Renewable energy growth has ramped up across the United States. Electricity generation from renewable energy sources including wind, solar and hydropower easily surpassed coal-fired generation in the electric power sector for the first time in 2022, making it the second-biggest source behind natural gas generation. Renewables also passed nuclear power generation for the first time in 2021 and widened that gap the next year. The IRA also spurring a wave of private sector investment in U.S. clean energy manufacturing facilities for solar, wind and electric vehicle parts, the majority of which will be located in Republican congressional districts represented by lawmakers who voted against the bill.

The Biden administration is continuing to roll out policies and programs focused on the energy transition, including detailing provisions under the Inflation Reduction Act that will help clarify the law so that new investments in the U.S. can move forward.

For example, in the latest phase of an ongoing educational partnership to inform Americans of how they can save money thanks to the current administration’s landmark clean energy policies. The partnership is launching $50 million in educational advertising that informs Americans on policies that are lowering their power bills and health care costs, cutting pollution, and fueling a new clean energy job boom. These new ads will help educate Americans about the benefits of the clean energy plan and how they can benefit from lowered costs and cleaner air and water and follow previous advertising in 2023. 

References

30 Things Joe Biden Did as President You Might Have Missed (2024). https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/02/02/joe-biden-30-policy-things-you-might-have-missed-00139046#:~:text=The%20move%3A%20Across%20the%20Biden,energy%20projects%2C%20like%20offshore%20wind.

Climate Power & Future Forward USA Action Launch $50M Educational (2024). Retrieved June, 5, 2024 from https://climatepower.us/news/climate-power-future-forward-usa-action-launch-50m-educational-ad-buy-on-biden-administration-policies-to-lower-costs-create-jobs-and-crack-down-on-corporate-polluters/