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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | July 18, 2023 09:57 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Sara Innamorato and Rep. Nick Pisciottano |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Green Jobs Tax Credit |
Pennsylvanians are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, including worsened air quality, intense flooding, agricultural losses, and increased risk of Lyme Disease. These effects will worsen without meaningful action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, communities across the Commonwealth suffer from a lack of job opportunities. From 2010 to 2020, rural Pennsylvania communities lost almost 85,000 residents. We must tackle both challenges at the same time. As Pennsylvania works on reducing climate pollution, we can incentivize industries working toward global climate goals to create good-paying, family-sustaining jobs. These investments would have the added benefit of reducing energy costs for families and achieving better air and water quality for everyone. Congress has already passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), which contain a wealth of resources, programs, and incentives to support all this work. Several states, including Virginia, have made themselves more competitive for these federal monies by offering green jobs tax credits to employers who create jobs that benefit our environment or conserve natural resources. In Pennsylvania, a green jobs tax credit would encourage businesses to invest in job creation and cleaner technology. Green jobs require specific skills. We can help lower-skilled Pennsylvania workers find jobs in low-polluting industries with room to advance their careers by incentivizing employers to provide comprehensive training programs. Furthermore, if the taxpayer employs a displaced worker from a fossil fuel or pollution-intensive sector, the incentive will increase. This provision helps ensure that towns that have historically relied on fossil fuel jobs have a seat at the table. Many of these areas are designated as Environmental Justice communities that have experienced decades of disinvestment. Almost 30 percent of Pennsylvanians who live in Environmental Justice communities will experience the highest risk of extreme heat and flooding. By adopting a green jobs tax credit, the Commonwealth is signaling to businesses that we will commit to growing advanced sustainable manufacturing and energy production, creating healthy, efficient buildings, and building up the electrification of our transportation sector. Please join me in supporting this vital investment in our workers, our environment, and our Commonwealth’s future. |