Jeff Fuentes Gleghorn
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will create up to 9 million new jobs over the next ten years, with many expected to land in Wisconsin. According to Evergreen Action, Wisconsin is a leader who will likely benefit from the funding the IRA gives to support the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs). In a press release, Evergreen pointed out that there is $3 billion for the United States Postal Office to buy electric mail trucks, manufactured exclusively by the Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corporation. The White House reports that over 70,000 Wisconsin residents are already working in clean energy fields, and 466,000 work in manufacturing. The White House release estimates that the IRA will bring Wisconsin $4 billion for clean power generation and storage by 2030.
The IRA also makes sure the jobs it creates pay well. Companies that pay the federal prevailing wage and provide enough registered apprenticeships while building and operating facilities will receive five times more in tax subsidies than companies that do not. This means the IRA will not only provide high paying jobs to Wisconsin residents, but also the opportunity to learn new skills and receive job training through registered apprenticeship programs. Clean energy manufacturing and construction jobs will become more common over the next ten years because of the IRA, and job training offers an opportunity for residents to join the green economy. Perhaps that is why two out of three Wisconsin residents support the Inflation Reduction Act.
