Jason Walsh, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the devastating impact of recent legislation on clean energy jobs.
He called recently passed legislation the "One Big Ugly Bill" and said it could eliminate over 2 million manufacturing jobs in the clean energy sector. Walsh explained that the legislation increases taxes on the fastest-growing, cleanest forms of energy to pay for tax breaks for wealthy individuals and corporations. He claims the bill not only jeopardizes existing projects but also undermines efforts to reshore the solar supply chain from China. The bill's provisions make it challenging to finance projects that include any components from China, potentially forcing the closure of manufacturing facilities that were setting up shop in the U.S., he added.
Walsh spoke about the impact on offshore wind projects, alleging the administration is making efforts to sabotage this emerging energy sector. He noted that nearly 30 gigawatts of offshore wind projects were in the queue before the current administration took office. Walsh claimed the President is using every lever of the federal government to hinder these projects, including revoking permits, freezing processes and issuing stop-work orders. This has created significant market uncertainty and caused companies to withdraw from project development, he noted. Walsh stressed that these projects were set to create numerous good-paying union jobs under Project Labor Agreements with highly skilled building trades workers.
The BGA is focusing on holding members of Congress accountable for voting for this bill, particularly those who previously praised clean energy investments in their districts. Walsh urged voters to understand that they are being misled, as 90 percent of USDA employees are already outside the Washington, D.C. area, contrary to the administration's portrayal. He emphasized the need for accurate information to counter inaccurate portrayals of the situation and highlighted the real costs of reorganization, including lost productivity and brain drain.
Listen to the full episode for more insights on the challenges facing clean energy jobs and the BGA's efforts to combat these setbacks.