A critical opportunity and work remains to be done

In an unlikely miracle on Capitol Hill, the Senate has passed a reconciliation package that represents the biggest investment in addressing climate change in the history of the United States. The Inflation Reduction Act not only aims to combat rising prices, but also provides a $369 billion investment in developing clean energy, energy efficient buildings, sustainable agriculture, and a host of other initiatives projected to reduce America’s carbon footprint by 40% in the next decade and support energy transition communities. 

The bill also contains provisions that improve federal oil and gas development, including ending wasteful speculation that ties up resources to pad corporate portfolios, and getting a better deal for Americans in exchange for the privilege of drilling on our public lands — an effort that Alliance members have worked for decades to accomplish.

The legislation isn’t perfect — our Alliance remains concerned for the fate of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, green uses of public lands being tied to ongoing oil and gas leasing, and potential impacts to the National Environmental Policy Act. As Alliance member Barbara Vasquez summarizes: 

“We are encouraged that the Inflation Reduction Act holds promising proposals to make long-overdue improvements to our country’s oil and gas program, including increasing royalty rates and discouraging wasteful practices that release harmful methane into the air. But we are extremely concerned about a requirement to make unspecified changes to permitting that would undermine the National Environmental Policy Act. And we find it truly perverse to make clean and renewable energy development subservient to a guaranteed level of future oil and gas leasing.” Read the full statement from the Western Organization of Resource Councils here. 

Even so, the Inflation Reduction Act overall represents a major step in the right direction that many did not believe possible in the tumultuous climate that presently characterizes American politics. This historic achievement was made possible in part by the efforts of Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, who worked with Senators Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer to find common ground for progress.

Please take five minutes today to call our senators and thank them for their work securing this vital piece of climate legislation!