Hi John,

As negotiations continue around the American Jobs Plan and the debate grows over how we define infrastructure, it’s important to remember that building out clean energy should be a critical priority in whatever legislation that develops. Not only is our existing energy infrastructure in desperate need of revitalization, but we also must invest heavily in building out new, clean energy infrastructure to create millions of new jobs for American workers in every region of the country while reducing carbon emissions. And that includes policies like “Buy Clean” and investments in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, which we discuss below.

 BUY CLEAN

Industrial greenhouse gas emissions contribute to roughly a quarter of US emissions. But the industrial sector is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize, meaning we must take innovative approaches to curbing emissions from industrial processes.

One way we can tackle industrial emissions is through the creation of “Buy Clean” standards that leverage the US government’s procurement power to award contracts to companies using verifiable cleaner materials with fewer embodied carbon emissions. Incentivizing the use of cleaner construction materials will also uplift US manufacturers, who tend to use cleaner construction materials than their foreign counterparts.

While “Buy Clean” standards enjoy broad support across labor, environmental, and industry groups, how do voters feel about them? Third Way and Global Strategy Group recently polled 3,300 voters across states with large manufacturing presences (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan) to gauge their response to “Buy Clean” standards.

 SECURING SUPPLY CHAINS

This week, the Biden-Harris Administration released findings from its 100-day supply chain review assessment and announced the creation of a Supply Chain Disruption Task Force.
 
One important provision within the report is an effort to secure the domestic supply chain for advanced batteries. This is absolutely critical for the U.S. automotive industry, where a sprawling vehicle parts supply chain provides stable jobs and stimulates local economic activity in communities across the country. 
 
In order to fulfill our commitment to tackle climate change through job creation, we need to make long-term investments in the clean energy technologies that will power our net-zero economy. Investing in advanced batteries shores up our EV supply chain, positions the US to become a leading producer of EVs, and creates long-term economic opportunities for our robust auto workforce.
 
Here’s what Josh Freed, Senior Vice President for Climate and Energy at Third Way, had to say about the White House announcement:

"Building a resilient supply chain across several industries, especially batteries, is critical to the transition of the American economy and the path to net zero emissions. Yesterday’s release of the White House Supply Chain Review Report makes several recommendations on batteries which are essential for the transition to clean energy transportation. Creating conditions for these supply chains to flourish in the U.S. will establish the backbone of zero emissions vehicles.

The report’s recommendations – building batteries here in America to support electric vehicle manufacturing, providing incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, and government support for charging infrastructure – are all included in the American Jobs Plan. Our recent automotive mapping project highlighted the importance of establishing a vibrant and growing battery manufacturing industry here in the U.S., supporting growth in electric vehicle manufacturing and over 4 million jobs in the industry. None of this is possible without pursuing the recommendations contained in this supply chain report issued by the White House."

 HOUSE T&I SURFACE REAUTHORIZATION BILL

Earlier this week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the INVEST in America Act after a lengthy markup that lasted hours into the night.
 
Among several positive provisions, the bill commits to tackling racial inequity by providing funding to reconnect communities destroyed by urban freeways. This is one of the main recommendations we made with Transportation for America in Undoing the Damage of Urban Renewal.
 
Here’s what our Transportation Policy Advisor, Alex Laska, had to say about the surface reauthorization bill:

“The INVEST in America Act is the kind of bold legislation we need to get us on the path to a cleaner and more equitable transportation system. “House Democrats’ surface reauthorization proposal would create millions of jobs rebuilding our transportation infrastructure in a way that better helps people access the things they need while jump-starting our efforts to decarbonize transportation.”

The bill significantly increases funding for EV charging infrastructure, public transportation including zero-emission buses, and other projects that will reduce carbon pollution. The bill puts equity front and center by providing funds to reconnect communities torn apart by urban freeways and other infrastructure barriers. It also refocuses our highway spending towards repair and maintenance and away from highway widening, which increases vehicle congestion and emissions.

Third Way applauds House Democrats for taking this critical first step towards advancing a surface reauthorization that rises to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We look forward to working with them, their colleagues in the Senate and the Biden Administration to pass a generational investment in jobs, infrastructure, and climate this year.”

Global market demand for electric vehicles is rapidly increasing, and if we don’t act now, we might miss a historic opportunity to uplift our country’s enormous automotive workforce. There's also growing support across the ideological spectrum for federal investment in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. 
 
So how can we invest in electric vehicles in a way that supports working Americans and creates new opportunities for union workers?
 
Join us on Wednesday, June 16 for a conversation with Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Senior Resident Fellow at Third Way; Dr. Lisa D. Cook, Professor of Economics and International Relations at Michigan State University; and Cindy Estrada, Vice President and Director of United Auto Workers on how investing in electric vehicles can revive our economy and create good jobs for union workers if we use the smartest policy tools at our disposal. Register here.