Cantwell Joins VP Harris to Celebrate Lower Costs for Washingtonians Thanks to Inflation Reduction Act
Cantwell-championed measures provide long term tax credits key to accelerating clean energy transition, creating millions of new jobs, were part of Act signed into law one year ago today
SEATTLE, WA– Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), joined Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
“The Inflation Reduction Act is 10 years of predictable investment so that companies like McKinstry and others can do the innovation that is going to give consumers choice,” said Sen. Cantwell. “It is about saying that legacy companies just holding on to record profits is not the direction that we need to go. The direction we need to go is in innovation that lowers costs for consumers and drives new jobs for Washingtonians.”
Sen. Cantwell was a key supporter of several important provisions in the IRA that help Washingtonians’ wallets, including:
- Tax credits for renewable energy deployment and storage to lower energy costs
- Up to $7,500 in tax credits for the purchase of a new electric vehicle, $4,000 for used EVs
- Up to $14,000 in direct consumer rebates for buying energy-efficient home improvements
Yesterday, in Longview, WA, Sen. Cantwell visited the future site of Divert’s new Integrated Diversion and Energy Facility, which will turn food waste from local grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail food businesses as well as agricultural and industrial food producers into carbon negative renewable energy. The new facility is slated to break ground next month. (Photos of Sen. Cantwell’s Longview visit are available HERE, video HERE.)
The state-of-the-art facility that is being constructed in Longview plans to use the 30% Investment Tax Credit for qualified energy projects, which Sen. Cantwell strongly supported in the IRA.
“I’m so happy we got the expansion of the tax credit and that this project will qualify,” Sen. Cantwell said yesterday in Longview. “It [is] exactly what we have in mind in trying to innovate into cleaner sources of electricity. You're putting more power onto the grid and making that more affordable.”
“Longview is well positioned for our new Integrated Diversion & Energy Facility and will play a critical role in enabling businesses and jurisdictions to comply with the state’s new organic waste management law,” said Chris Thomas, VP of Public Affairs, Divert. “We have seen incredible support and interest from the community in welcoming clean technologies and developing decarbonization projects like ours. Longview’s rich industrial history, skilled workforce, as well as its position as a key transportation nexus, make it an ideal location for this first-of-its-kind facility for Washington. We are eager to continue to advance our mission to eliminate wasted food, and have a significant social and environmental impact in the Pacific Northwest.”
After today’s remarks, Sen. Cantwell joined Vice President Harris on a tour of the McKinstry headquarters. McKinstry designs, builds, and operates energy-efficient and net-zero buildings. The Seattle headquarters employs approximately 700 workers, including about 100 craftspeople representing seven different unions. Because of the IRA, McKinstry foresees a significant increase of building electrification and energy efficiency work over the next few years, meaning good-paying jobs for Washingtonians in the building trades.
Video of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks today are available HERE, audio HERE, photos HERE, and a transcript HERE.
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