Trump Might Scrapple Biden's Clean Technology Initiative, However, IRA Remains Active
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Congress's last-minute maneuvering to assemble a temporary budget agreement last week indicates the likelihood of significant and chaotic modifications in the legislative process and budgetary priorities in the coming year. Among these changes, it's expected that the Biden administration's ambitious plan to shift the U.S. economy towards low-carbon energy sources and transportation, the Inflation Reduction Act, will undergo substantial cuts, if not complete dismantling. If this happens, it would be a pity for one primary reason: it's proving successful.
The $400 billion allocated for clean energy projects and manufacturing under the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 represents the largest attempt to combat climate change in U.S. history. The aim was to promote the rapid expansion of large-scale wind and solar power projects, battery plants for electric vehicles and energy storage, and clean hydrogen projects. The outcomes of these efforts are becoming apparent: domestic capacity to manufacture solar panels has increased fivefold, and there has been a significant surge in large-scale solar installations. Moreover, low-cost federal loans and Inflation Reduction Act grants, along with billions of investments from companies like General Motors, Ford, Rivian, and Panasonic, are driving an unprecedented level of U.S. battery production.
“For the battery industry, $110 billion has been distributed and cannot be repealed,” says Simon Moores, CEO of London-based Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. “The bulk of this will come online during the Trump 2.0 years, so whether the new President-elect likes it or not, they will oversee the American battery boom.”
A White House press briefing with reporters last week revealed that as a result of clean energy investments under Biden, nearly 4 million new jobs have been created, and the cost of solar power generation, upgraded power transmission lines, and stationary battery storage has decreased.
Biden stated the motivation was not solely to address the climate crisis but also to transform the country for future generations. “Together, we will convert this existential threat into a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revamp our nation for generations to come.”
Note for readers: This will be the final edition of Present Climate in 2024. Additionally, it marks Amy's departure from Present Climate as she transitions to cover the healthcare beat and co-authors the InnovationRx newsletter. Alan will resume Current Climate on January 6. Happy holidays!
Main Feature
The start-up working on bee vaccinations
How can you vaccinate a honeybee, and will beekeepers prioritize vaccinating them?
These are the queries that Annette Kleiser has been grappling with since founding Dalan Animal Health in 2018. Five years after introducing the Athens, Georgia-based startup, the government approved an oral vaccine crafted by her team, which beekeepers can administer to worker bees, who then transmit it to their queens via royal jelly, resulting in immunity for the queen's offspring. Now, she's determined to vaccinate as many bees as possible to protect not only the hives but the crops they pollinate.
“We understand that the loss of insects is detrimental to this world,” Kleiser said. “We cannot survive on this planet or anywhere else without insects.”
The Dalan vaccine shields against the devastating bacterial disease known as American Foulbrood, and Kleiser views it as an essential measure in maintaining the health of the roughly 3 million honeybee colonies in the U.S. It's not the only ailment bees suffer from – approximately 50% of colonies and millions of bees die from various illnesses each year, including the varroa mite, a destructive parasite.
Kleiser and her team at Dalan believe that specially designed bee vaccines, effective against American Foulbrood and other diseases like deformed wing virus, are critical in preserving more bees, enabling commercial beekeepers to transport bees around the country to pollinate crops such as almonds, blueberries, cucumbers, and apples.
The next stage is to extend beyond honeybees to other invertebrates, beginning with shrimp, as initial tests yield encouraging results. “It’s much, much bigger than the honeybee,” Kleiser said. “The honeybee is significant because we require this animal to survive to feed us, but the scientific advancements are far more extensive than just the honeybee.”
Read more about this topic
Focus Topic
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's lasting impact
What impact may linger in terms of infrastructure achievements during your tenure?
Those infrastructure projects, I am proud of the 14,000 that have been completed. Another 66,000 projects are receiving support, and many will take years to complete. We are entering a true infrastructure decade.
One aspect I am proud of is not just the completion of projects but the fact that, before the projects were even finished, people were put to work. Meet the individuals I've encountered – veterans reentering the workforce, students enrolling in pre-apprenticeship programs who understand that lucrative, skilled jobs are waiting for them in the future – generations of work. The impact of these projects on people's lives, in addition to the benefits they'll bring when completed, is truly transformative.
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More from Our Site
- Despite the potential changes to the Inflation Reduction Act under the looming legislative shifts, the success of the act's infrastructure projects, such as the $400 billion investment in clean energy, has already boosted domestic solar panel manufacturing and large-scale solar installations.
- In the context of the Inflation Reduction Act, even if the Trump administration's approach towards industrial policy were to return, the vast investment in the battery industry will lead to an American battery boom during their tenure.
- In the realm of clean energy, Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, emphasizes the transformative impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's projects, creating employment opportunities and supporting the development of green energy technology.
- Researchers and innovators like Annette Kleiser at Dalan Animal Health are working on vaccinating honeybees to combat diseases like American Foulbrood, recognizing the crucial role of pollinators in agricultural production and food security.
- As part of an energy policy shift, the Biden administration is considering vaccinating honeybees to protect them from diseases like American Foulbrood, aligning with the broader goal of promoting green energy and combating climate change.
