Bernie Crane
Communications Fellow
Easter is this Sunday, and even if you don’t celebrate, there are still plenty of reasons to get excited thanks to these 5 encouraging clean energy Easter eggs. Read this article to go on an (admittedly easy) clean energy Easter egg hunt.
Egg #1- Clean Energy now meets 40% of global energy demand.
In 2024, clean energy set a record for this century by meeting 40% of global energy demand. We don’t want to mislead you with these Easter eggs and paint a picture that everything is chocolate bunnies and candy — we still have a long way to go. Energy demand in 2024 grew at almost double the rate of previous years. However, the fact that clean energy managed to meet 40% of that need is no small achievement. The adoption of clean energy is happening everywhere, as businesses, schools, and communities are all making the decision to go green. These choices, big and small, along with important state and federal policies, are allowing clean energy to meet more and more of global energy demand.
Egg #2- 85% of Americans support making electric vehicles more affordable for average Americans and working families
A recent study found strong support across party lines for electric vehicles and clean energy manufacturing. While the energy transition has been politicized for years, most voters agree it is a good thing. It creates jobs, cuts air pollution, and saves people money. The study found 72% of voters want to keep the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs, and even more support extra help for things like charging stations and plug-in hybrids. Voters on both sides also support tax breaks for companies that build EVs and their parts in the U.S. People are especially in favor of clean energy when it creates good jobs in their own communities.
Egg #3- The Inflation Reduction Act will save consumers around $300 billion on energy bills over the next decade.
Of course, the projected hundreds of billions in electricity bill savings from the IRA come with a big caveat: the law needs to stay in place for us to see those benefits.
The IRA has already delivered real savings to folks nationwide. Consumers saved $1 billion on EV purchases, and over 3 million American households took advantage of IRS subsidies in 2023, saving more than $8 billion on clean energy technologies. These savings have been crucial for people across the country who are trying to do their part in the clean energy transition.
It’s essential to keep this bill in place. If you want to take action, you can tell your Congressperson to protect EV tax credits using our template — or call them today and urge them to protect the IRA.
Egg #4- Clean energy jobs grew over twice as fast as the overall market, adding 149,000 jobs in 2023.
According to the most recent data we have, clean energy jobs grew by nearly 5% from 2022 to 2023 — more than double the rate of the overall market. A large part of this job growth comes from investments created by the IRA, and a big percentage of these new jobs are coming in red states and districts with representatives that voted against the IRA. It is important to make clear that growing clean energy capacity isn’t just saving folks money, it isn’t just reducing pollution, it isn’t even just preventing worsening climate change, it is giving work to millions of folks nationwide, and that number is continuing to grow year after year.
Egg #5- In just the last 2.5 years, 94 new clean energy projects are online & operating.
For decades, and especially after the results of the last presidential election — bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. has been a prominent talking point for politicians across the political spectrum. What some have failed to realize is that this is happening, and it’s happening now. As the last Easter egg showed, clean energy jobs are booming, and red districts have emerged as the biggest winners. Congressional districts that favored Trump in the 2020 election received three times as much clean energy and manufacturing investment from the IRA as those that leaned toward Biden. Clean energy manufacturing is happening here and is putting millions of folks to work with good-paying, skilled jobs.
The Inflation Reduction Act is, of course, a big part of this progress — but it’s not everything. As of the latest analysis we have, the U.S. is still on pace to set records this year for clean energy production.
The Inflation Reduction Act is, of course, a big part of this progress — but it’s not everything. As of the latest analysis we have, the U.S. is still on pace to set records this year for clean energy production. Clean energy is reshaping our economy and our future, and we all have a role to play. If you want to be a part of the clean energy momentum, check out Generation180’s resources to see how you can electrify your life
