Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

In 2021, the Biden Administration signed the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Act” into law. Now known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), it is legislation aimed at protecting communities against the impacts of climate change. It is the largest investment in clean energy infrastructure in American history. The BIL includes sections on transportation, climate, energy, and the environment. The transportation section involves funding to “rebuild and reinvest in railways, public transit infrastructure and the safety of the transportation system” (The White House 2024a). The climate, energy and the environment section involve investment on resiliency of infrastructure to climate change, cybersecurity risks and other hazards. “The funding provided under the law will modernize our power grid; weatherize and upgrade homes, schools, businesses, and communities to make them cleaner and more affordable; and fund new programs to support the development, demonstration, and deployment of cutting-edge clean energy technologies” (The White House 2024a).

Along with investing in new infrastructure, the BIL includes “historic investments in environmental clean-up and remediation, and builds up our resilience for the next superstorms, droughts, wildfires, and hurricanes that cost us billions of dollars in damage each year” (The White House 2022). The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched a $500 million Renew America’s Schools Program (U.S. Department of Energy 2024). This program is designed to help decrease energy use and cost and improve learning environments by making energy upgrades in school communities.

Inflation Reduction Act

On August 16, 2022, the Biden Administration signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. Implemented by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, the bill addresses several major themes, one of which is strengthening energy security and providing an outline for the transition into a clean energy economy. The IRA is the single largest investment in climate and energy in American history. The bill creates opportunities for lowering household energy costs while reducing GHG emissions, as well as incentives for investing in clean energy and manufacturing. The bill also addresses mitigating the effects of climate change in overburdened communities and lower income households while improving access to clean energy. In addition, through the expansion of certain sectors, new jobs have been created. In the battery supply chain alone, 75,000 jobs have been created as of August 2023. The bill creates opportunities for K-12 school districts to claim tax credits to reduce the cost of clean energy infrastructure projects. Uses of these tax credits could include purchasing electric school buses, installing solar panels, or installing a central geothermal system.

Justice40 Initiative

The Justice40 Initiative aims to ensure that at least 40 percent of the overall benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy projects are directed to disadvantaged communities, prioritizing environmental justice and equity. It's a commitment to addressing historic environmental injustices and ensuring that disadvantaged communities receive their fair share of the benefits from government actions related to climate change and clean energy. The Justice40 initiative is a key component of President Biden's Executive Order 14008, that he issued his first week in office. This Executive Order tackles the climate crisis at home and abroad to address long-standing environmental and economic disparities, particularly in communities of color and low-income areas, through targeted funding and policies. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to combat climate change, create jobs, and promote a sustainable and inclusive economy (U.S. Department of Energy 2022).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) Clean School Bus Program aims to reduce children's exposure to harmful diesel emissions by replacing older buses with cleaner, more efficient models, promoting healthier environments for students and communities. Meanwhile, the EPA's Lead Testing in School and Child Care Grant Program focuses on safeguarding children's health by assisting schools and childcare facilities in testing for and mitigating lead contamination, ensuring safe learning environments. In addition, the DOE's Grants for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Improvements at Public School Facilities support schools in implementing energy-saving measures and adopting renewable energy technologies, fostering sustainability and reducing operational costs for educational institutions.

Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards

Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, commonly known as CAFE standards, were enacted in 1975 by Congress. These standards “reduce America’s consumption of oil, save consumers money at the gas pump, and protect public health and the environment by curbing global warming pollution. They also help spur investments in new automotive technology, creating jobs and helping sustain the recovery of the American auto industry” (Union of Concerned Scientists 2018). CAFE standards are updated regularly based upon a five-year projection of automobile fuel efficiency. The standards are based on the average efficiency value of a fleet of cars per manufacturer. Efficiency in automobiles in the United States is measured in miles per gallon. For example, the 2024-2026 CAFE standards require manufacturers to have a fleet wide average of 49 miles per gallon for passenger cars and light trucks by 2026. When the 2024-2026 standards expire, a revised set of CAFE standards will be created for the following sets of years. These new standards increase fuel efficiency 8 percent annually for model years 2024-2026 and increase the estimated fleetwide average by 10 miles by gallon. These changes would reduce GHG emissions by 2.5 billion tons over the next three decades (U.S. Department of Transportation 2022).