Tallahassee, FL (August 18, 2022) – In response to President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law, Florida Conservation Voters (FCV) issued the following statement from Executive Director Aliki Moncrief.
“Earlier this week, President Biden signed into law the most significant piece of climate legislation in our nation’s history. The Inflation Reduction Act is essential in strengthening our ability to combat climate change and transition our communities from dirty fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. This bill is critical for Florida’s communities, considering the massive failure of Governor Ron DeSantis and his allies in legislative leadership to address the worsening climate crisis adequately. Thanks to President Biden and Congress, the IRA is expected to bring an estimated $62.7 billion investment in large-scale clean power generation and storage to Florida between now and 2030. This legislation will also lower housing costs through rebates and tax credits and help state and local governments adopt the latest building energy codes, which would help new homeowners save about $225 on their annual utility bills. However, while the IRA is a powerful step in the right direction, it does not meet the needs of communities of color and at-risk communities who, for too long, have borne a disproportionate burden of fossil fuels and other pollution. These frontline communities have been historically excluded from the decision-making process and infrastructure improvement projects while simultaneously experiencing the greatest harm from environmental impacts. We at FCV will do everything we can to combat these injustices by working at the state and local level to protect our communities and advocating Congress members to compel the Biden administration to do more to advance environmental justice.”
FCV would like to thank Florida Congressmembers Darren Soto (FL 9), Charlie Crist (FL 13), Kathy Castor (FL 14), and others for supporting this landmark legislation that will enhance our transition to a healthier, more equitable, clean energy future. We look forward to working with partners, experts, and community leaders to thoughtfully navigate the billions of dollars coming to the state of Florida through recent federal climate legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.
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