Congressman Jamaal Bowman headlined a Town Hall on the Benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) at New Rochelle High School on Wednesday, March 15. The New York League of Conservation Voters sponsored the event and Matt Salton, NYLCV’s federal campaign manager, shared valuable information about the rebates and tax credits in the IRA and how New Rochelle residents can take advantage of its benefits.

To find out what IRA benefits you are eligible for visit: 

https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ira-calculator

Bowman opened his remarks saying, “There is a global mission to end our dependency on fossil fuels as quickly as possible.  … We have the technology to do this right now. … That’s why we are here tonight to begin that conversation.”

To help understand and navigate the benefits available to people within the IRA, Bowman encouraged people to go to www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy and sign up for information and updates.

He explained the importance of community engagement with the IRA, “I was told by one of the directors of the Environmental Protection Agency, ‘The more you organize your district, and the more people are on the same page in engaging in benefiting from what the IRA has to offer, the more money your district will receive.’”

According to the White House website, “The Inflation Reduction Act lowers energy costs for consumers and small businesses while creating good-paying jobs as America’s clean energy economy and manufacturing sectors grow.”

Quick Summary of IRA Benefits:

● Helps achieve roughly 40% climate emissions reduction by 2030

● Will save all households hundreds on energy costs and up to $1,800 for those families taking advantage of electrification incentives

● At least 40% of benefits must go to disadvantaged low wealth, or most fossil fuel-harmed communities

● Will create upwards of 9 million new jobs

● Averts 3,000 premature deaths and 100,000 asthma attacks yearly by 2030.

To address the effects of institutional and structural racism on Black, brown, and low-income communities that suffer most from toxic pollution and the disproportionate impacts of climate change, the IRA includes historic investments in environmental justice. It also builds on the Bowman-backed Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the Biden Administration’s climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities.

Raya Salter, Executive Director of the New Rochelle based, Energy Justice Law and Policy Center, shared her thoughts on the IRA: “It has billions of dollars, not only for clean energy tax credits to help homeowners or to support low-income energy efficiency, but also to support community based organizations to partner with cities and municipalities to make these projects happen in a big way.” 

Regarding the IRA’s investments to right the wrongs of environmental racism, Salter adds, “I’m very concerned that some of this money will not be used in a way to promote environmental justice, including addressing historical, racist, infrastructure practices, such as Memorial Highway, and could potentially exacerbate them.”

The day after Congressman Bowman’s visit, LoHud and USA Today published a lengthy article on the history of environmental racism in New Rochelle.  The full article is currently available only to LoHud and USA Today subscribers. See our coverage here.

On the jobs front, The IRA will create good-paying union jobs to help reduce emissions; incentivize prevailing wage, family supporting jobs; stop companies that pay poverty wages from ripping off workers; and support U.S. manufacturing. 

In his talk at NRHS, Bowman also highlighted Sustainable Westchester and told participants to visit SustainableWestchester.org for information about that organization’s programs.