Nearly 60 Democrats are calling on leaders to include help for the renewable energy industry in the next stimulus package.
“As Congress works to help the American economy recover, we must ensure robust investments are made to spur growth in renewable energy, energy storage, energy efficiency, clean vehicles, clean and efficient infrastructure, clean fuels, and workforce development,” lawmakers wrote in a letter spearheaded by Rep. Paul Tonko
Paul David TonkoOvernight Energy: Trump officials finalize plan to open up protected areas of Tongass to logging | Feds say offshore testing for oil can proceed despite drilling moratorium | Dems question EPA's postponement of inequality training Democrats question EPA postponement of environmental inequality training Clark rolls out endorsements in assistant Speaker race MORE (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich
Martin Trevor HeinrichOVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA proposes reapproving uses of pesticide linked to brain damage in children | Hispanic caucus unhappy with transition team treatment of Lujan Grisham | Schwarzenegger backs Nichols to lead EPA Hispanic caucus unhappy with transition team treatment of Lujan Grisham Progressives urge Haaland for Interior as short list grows MORE (D-N.M.).
“These investments should both spur national growth and include funding opportunities for community-level adoption. Smart investments in these areas can help America decarbonize, put people back to work, and help our national, state, and local economies recover," they wrote.
The wind and solar industries, like many others, have been hit hard by the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus, losing nearly 600,000 jobs.
Those job losses come amid a growing cry from sections of the Democratic party to focus future stimulus bills on efforts that could help fight climate change.
Some Democrats have similarly asked for leaders to establish a modern day Civilian Conservation Corps to fund conservation jobs in rural areas.
