Texas Climate Jobs Project Applauds Biden Administration for Awarding Harris County “Game-Changing” Clean Energy and Jobs Grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2024
Tariq Thowfeek, press@seekerstrategies.com
Cell: 832.247.4207
Texas Climate Jobs Project Applauds Biden Administration for Awarding Harris County “Game-Changing” Clean Energy and Jobs Grant
(Houston, TX) Today, Bo Delp, executive director of the Texas Climate Jobs Project, issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of a $249,700,000 million grant award for the Texas Solar For All Coalition:
“Today’s announcement from the Biden Clean Energy Plan proves that when local elected leaders work in partnership with labor and organizers, we can innovatively deliver clean power, make our grid more reliable, keep our electric bills affordable, and build critical new infrastructure with good-paying union jobs. We’re proud to be in this coalition to make sure working people get their fair share in the clean energy transition.”
“Texas Climate Jobs Project commends Harris County Commissioners for working closely with the Power Up Harris County coalition, among others, to craft such an innovative, bold proposal that stood out in a large field. However, the work is not yet done to ensure this opportunity becomes the game-changing reality we know it can be. Harris County officials must ensure that the jobs that will power this project are good union jobs and that the poor and working-class communities of color that are so often disenfranchised from these opportunities are given access to these jobs through recruitment, training, and additional support. We must ensure that the exploitative practices of the old economy are not transferred to the new clean energy economy.
“Workers and the community stand ready to partner with Harris County so that together we can fully realize the potential of this historic investment in our communities.
“I would like to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for following through on their promise to support Harris County and for rewarding the years of hard work by a broad array of local organizers fighting to make life better and more prosperous for Texans.”
Background:
Despite assurances from executives and state officials about the reliability of Texas’ power grid, millions of residents across Houston and the state of Texas are frequently forced to endure anxiety and uncertainty from ERCOT due to the fragility of the state’s grid. Most recently, ERCOT warned of potential failures during warmer-than-expected weather in April - long before the peak heat of summer. Making matters worse, the lack of reliability has driven up utility bills for ordinary Houstonians already struggling to make ends meet financially. Last year, ERCOT had the most expensive electricity market in America, while every other regional grid had lower electricity prices.
About Power Up Harris County and Texas Climate Jobs Project
Texas Climate Jobs Project is a non-profit organization advancing a pro-worker, pro-climate agenda in Texas.
The Power Up Harris County campaign is a coalition of local labor and community organizations working to build an infrastructure for clean, reliable, and affordable energy while creating good paying union jobs. The Campaign Steering Committee includes the Texas Climate Jobs Project, The Workers Defense Project, New Economy for Working Houston, the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, Unemployed Workers United and the Texas Organizing Project.
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