By Kala Hunter
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga.
(TNS)

August 13 – A Georgia Republican who supports former President Donald Trump is concerned about the possible repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act that brought billions of dollars in clean energy investments to Georgia.

Last Tuesday, 18 Republicans sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stressing the importance of keeping the energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act if Trump is elected in November. Trump has vowed to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act on his first day in office and called the electric vehicle mandate the “death of the U.S. auto industry.”

But the law has invested more than $352 billion in clean energy in 47 states. In Georgia, $24 billion has been invested and 30,661 jobs have been created, according to Climate Power, a climate communications organization. The Peach State is the nation’s leading state in clean energy job creation, according to Climate Power.

One of the 17 co-signers was Representative Buddy Carter of Georgia’s 1st District, which includes Georgia’s coast and inland as far as Waycross. His district received $7.6 billion, more than a third of the state’s investment in clean energy production.

“We must strike a balance between rolling back the worst parts of the Inflation Reduction Act and ensuring the stability businesses need to continue investing in the United States,” Carter said in a statement.

Three major projects in southeast Georgia are the Hyundai EV Metaplant and the LG Metafactory, worth $7.5 billion and creating 8,500 jobs. The Seoyon E-HWA EV Parts invested $76 million and created 740 jobs. These figures on current and ongoing projects come from a new clean energy map by Thirdway, a nonprofit think tank dedicated to climate policy.

“A complete repeal (of the Inflation Mitigation Act) would create a worst-case scenario in which we would have spent billions of taxpayer dollars and received next to nothing in return. Energy tax credits have spurred innovation, encouraged investment and created good jobs in many parts of the country…” Johnson warns in the letter.

The letter was initiated by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (RN.Y.), co-chair of the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus.

Why so much has been invested in clean energy in GA

Hyundai chose Georgia because of its access to ports and railroads in Savannah, but came to the U.S. specifically for the tax breaks provided by the law and began construction in Georgia, according to an Associated Press report.

Carter said Hyundai decided to come to his district before the law was passed.

“I am pleased to have Hyundai as a strong partner in Georgia’s 1st Congressional District, a decision made before the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, and will continue to push for pro-growth policies so we can empower consumers and beat China,” he said in a statement.

Government studies have shown that the law has also given Georgia tax benefits beyond business investments. Just last week, the IRS released new data highlighting tax benefits at the household level.

“87,000 Georgia families benefited from more than $148 million in tax credits in 2023 to reduce the cost of clean energy and improve the energy efficiency of their homes,” Climate Power’s analysis said.

Home improvement measures such as heat pumps, insulation, windows and efficient air conditioning systems are also part of the credits.

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