Biden New Energy Supports Grow A “Battery Belt” Across Red States

Republicans in the US ‘battery belt’ embrace Biden’s climate spending; Southern states led by Republicans did not vote for climate spending, but now embrace clean energy dollars like never before

Oliver Milman, 22 February 2023 (UK Guardian)

“…[Billions of dollars of new clean energy investment in the the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for solar, electric vehicle and battery manufacturing has transformed a swathe of southern states into] a so-called “battery belt” in the economic transition away from fossil fuels…[Despite no Republican voting for the IRA,] Republican-headed states have claimed the lion’s share of new renewable energy and electric vehicle activity since the legislation, with Republican-held congressional districts hosting more than 80% of all utility-scale wind or solar farms and battery projects currently in advanced development, according to an analysis by American Clean Power…

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…States blessed with plentiful wind and sunshine, along with significant rural and industrial communities, such as those across the Great Plains and the south, appear best positioned to capitalize on the climate bill. Texas, already a bastion of wind power, could see $131bn in IRA-linked investment this decade, Florida may see $62bn and Georgia $16bn, according to an RMI analysis…Democrats have touted the bill for not only helping tackle the climate crisis but also as a way to wrest the initiative from China, which has dominated the manufacturing of parts for clean energy systems and electric cars until now…

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…[L]ast year’s IRA, with its sweeping tax incentives for emissions-reducing technologies, has made the environment [to China to build production capacity in the U.S., especially in Republic states,] even more enticing…[And] the trajectory of the transition is becoming more undeniable. As the cost of renewables continues to plummet and more Americans turn to electric cars, thanks in part to the ‘unprecedented scale’ of the IRA, partisan divides on the issue may soften…” click here for more

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