(Huntington, WV, Tuesday, November 23, 2021) – Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Plan. This plan is good news for West Virginia. Combined with the clean energy investments from the bipartisan infrastructure deal just signed into law, Build Back Better will help West Virginia create jobs, strengthen the economy and foster opportunities that will attract and encourage young people to settle in the state. It will also help West Virginians save money and reduce the climate impacts that are causing extreme weather events in the state.

Toby Short, Associate Vice President of Federal Affairs, at the Environmental Defense Fund, explains.

SOUNDBITE #1:

PASSING THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT IS A WIN-WIN FOR WEST VIRGINIA. THE CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS AND TAX CREDITS IN THE PLAN WILL HELP CREATE THE KIND OF GOOD-PAYING JOBS THAT ATTRACT AND KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE AREA. THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS ALONE WILL CREATE AS MANY AS EIGHTY-ONE THOUSAND JOBS IN THE STATE. AND THE PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR HOMES AND BUSINESS WILL GENERATE ANOTHER THIRTY-FOUR THOUSAND JOBS.

SOUNDBITE #2:

THE PLAN IS GOOD FOR OUR POCKETBOOKS TOO. IT CAN SAVE WEST VIRGINIA HOUSEHOLDS UP TO FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR ON ENERGY BILLS. CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS AND TAX CREDITS WILL DRIVE DOWN THE COSTS OF CLEAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION. THIS IS A PROVEN TREND: THE COST OF SOLAR ENERGY DROPPED NINETY PERCENT IN THE TEN YEARS AFTER THE LAST MAJOR FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN CLEAN ENERGY. WIND COSTS DROPPED SEVENTY PERCENT.

For more information, go to edf.org/powerupamerica.

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One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 2.5 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund.