After enduring a record-breaking 34 days with temperatures exceeding 100+ degrees in 2022, Salt Lake City has transitioned to a milder summer. We’ve been lucky in this regard, unlike much of the country and the wider world. June 2023 was Earth’s hottest June on record. July 2023 was Earth’s hottest month on record . A heat dome settled across the western United States. China and Europe also saw similar record heat. This is the bad news.
The good news is that Aug. 16 marks the 1-year anniversary of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the most significant climate legislation in U.S. history. The IRA incentivizes the transition to clean energy through investment and production tax credits. To date, this has led to the announcement of 202 new projects across 38 states worth $84 billion and 70,000 new jobs.
A local example of progress incentivized by the IRA is the Revkor Energy Holdings and H2 Gemini Technology partnership. This collaboration will develop new generations of solar cell architectures starting in 2024. It will eventually add 2,500 high tech jobs and billions of dollars to state revenue. I am grateful for this progress of investment in the U.S. clean energy transition, and for Utah’s contribution.
I will write to my state government officials encouraging them to make use of IRA credits, emphasizing the urgent need to make these visible and accessible to all everyday citizens. Many Utahns want to take advantage of the tax credits and discounts for electrifying their homes.
I urge Utah Reps. John Curtis, Burgess Owens, Blake Moore and Chris Stewart’s successor to build upon this starting point, further driving clean energy jobs.
The tide is turning. With our collective and powerful voices, we can amplify a clean energy transformation, ensuring a desirable home for all.
David Kam, Salt Lake City
