Clean Air, Clean Energy: The Road Ahead

By Elise Priesman

Picture a country where over a third of its population lives without access to clean air. One might imagine a nation decimated with poverty or amidst a brutal war conflict, but this is the reality of the United States. Currently, 39 percent of Americans live without access to unpolluted air [1]. As one of the wealthiest nations in the world, why can we not guarantee our citizens basic  living standards? The very fossil fuels that power our nation and contribute to our economic prosperity are leaving America’s cities–particularly disadvantaged communities–without clean air. In response to this urgent issue, the Biden Administration passed the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, one of the most monumental climate acts in U.S. history. In just two  years, it has made substantial progress in funding the clean energy transition and improving air quality, particularly in vulnerable communities that already bear the burdens of climate change most heavily; however, Trump’s recent election may pose a threat to this progress.  

Poor air quality in the United States is not just a health hazard, but also a great social inequity burdening communities of color. Clean air has become a luxury rather than a right as the United States has proven to be more accessible to white, wealthy Americans. Industrial plants, refineries, factories, hazardous waste sites and other sources of pollutants have historically been placed in  predominantly low-income and BIPOC communities [2]. African Americans are exposed to 43 percent higher levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from vehicles than white Californians, and Latinos are exposed to 39 percent higher levels; this then translates to higher premature mortality rates [3]. Shifting to clean energy is not only essential for the future of our planet but also for a more equitable future in the United States. The Biden Administration has taken a multifaceted approach to addressing environmental and economic disparities in marginalized communities through installing zero-emissions equipment and technology, allocating millions toward reducing emissions, and funding pollution monitoring initiatives  centered around low-income and disadvantaged communities [4]. 75 percent of private sector clean energy investments have flowed to counties with lower than median household incomes, meaning that the clean energy investments of the Biden Administration are having the largest impact on marginalized communities [5]. The IRA has created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the clean energy sector [6]. These initiatives should aid in revitalizing the economies in low-income and BIPOC communities, and by shifting the industry away from fossil fuels, economic growth and better health can be achieved simultaneously.  

The IRA has already made monumental strides toward electrifying vehicles in the United  States. Through tax credits of up to $7,500 for new EV purchases, electric car sales have  skyrocketed to an all-time high, six times higher than in 2018 [7]. This is crucial given that gas-powered transportation accounts for 80 percent of nitrous oxide pollution, and air pollution is  the greatest environmental health risk factor in the U.S. [8]. The shift away from gas-powered vehicles is an essential component of ensuring that even the most vulnerable communities in the 

the United States have access to clean air. Under the Biden administration, the U.S. has undergone a historic shift in energy production, which is another essential component for achieving environmental justice. For the first time, wind and solar generated more power than coal-fired power for five months of 2023, and again in 2024 wind and solar generated more power than coal for the first  seven months of the year [9]. This historic shift to clean energy has helped more than double Americans’ emissions reduction pace compared to 2020, translating to cleaner air quality throughout the country [10]. These emissions reductions through transitioning to clean energy will reduce smog and air pollution and improve the health of countless Americans, with the most tangible effects being felt by marginalized communities.  

While the IRA is deemed a monumental climate change act through shifting to green energy, many compromises were made for the bill to gain bipartisan support. Those compromises include subsidies for building pipelines and new leases for oil and gas drilling. Although this seems to combat the positive changes made by the IRA, it may prove to be beneficial after Trump’s reelection, which poses an enormous threat to the progress made under the Biden  administration. A proponent of fossil fuel use and someone who has referred to climate change as “one of the great scams of all time,” Trump has stated he plans to “terminate” the IRA and  rescind unspent funds [11]. While a full repeal of the act would require support from both  houses—which would be harder to accomplish—it is almost certain he will target aspects such as  EV tax credits, clean energy incentives, and other environmental justice initiatives. A full repeal of the IRA would also be difficult as many Republicans support it, reflecting the positive impact of the Biden Administration’s compromises. 

For the many Americans concerned with our climate’s future and community health,  Trump’s reelection can be overwhelming and frightening; however, it is important not to let these  feelings turn into passivity or inaction given the situation’s gravity. A future where all Americans  have clean air and fossil fuels are phased out is possible but requires tremendous efforts  achievable only through policy changes. Since much climate action will be left up to cities and  states, voting in local elections, contacting congressional representatives to express support for climate and energy policies, and attending public comment sessions are ways to maintain the momentum created during the Biden administration. It is only through implementing these policies that the health of communities burdened by smog and pollution will improve and every American will have their basic need of clean air met. 

Works Cited

1. American Lung Association. “Key Findings: State of the Air 2024.” Accessed November  17, 2024. https://www.lung.org/research/sota/key-findings.
2. Natural Resources Defense Council. “What Is Environmental Racism?” NRDC, accessed  December 11, 2024. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-environmental-racism 3.
3. Union of Concerned Scientists. “Inequitable Exposure to Air Pollution from Vehicles in  California.” February 2019. https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2019/02/cv-air-pollution-CA-web.pdf.
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2  Billion to Fund Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants as Part of  Investing in America Agenda.” News release, November 21, 2023. Accessed December  11, 2024.  https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-2-billion-fund environmental-and-climate-justice.
5. Energy Innovation. “What Is the Inflation Reduction Act?” Accessed November 17,  2024. https://energyinnovation.org/expert-voice/what-is-the-inflation-reduction-act/.
6. Canary Media. “Chart: Which Clean Energy Sector Is Creating the Most New Jobs?”  Canary Media. Accessed December 10, 2024. https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy-jobs/chart-which-clean-energy-secto r-is-creating-the-most-new-jobs.
7. Zenthoefer, Will, and Sara Martinez. “How Inflation Reduction Act Electric Vehicle  Incentives Are Driving a U.S. Manufacturing Renaissance.” Center for American  Progress, October 26, 2023.  https://www.americanprogress.org/article/how-inflation-reduction-act-electric-vehicle-inc entives-are-driving-a-u-s-manufacturing-renaissance/.
8. World Health Organization. “Ambient (Outdoor) Air Quality and Health.” Fact Sheet.  Accessed December 10, 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-heal th.
9. Lavelle, Marianne. “U.S. Wind and Solar Are on Track to Overtake Coal This Year.”  Scientific American, April 14, 2023. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-wind-and-solar-are-on-track-to-overtake-c oal-this-year/.
10. Goffman, Andrew W., and Laura Bloomer. “Benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act on  Public Health, Emissions, and More Outweigh Costs, New Research Finds.” Resources  for the Future, August 4, 2022. https://www.rff.org/news/press-releases/benefits-of-the-inflation-reduction-act-on-public health-emissions-and-more-outweigh-costs-new-research-finds/.
11. The Guardian. “Trump Visits Georgia, Denies Climate Crisis after Hurricane Helene.”  October 1, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/01/trump-visits-georgia-denies-climate-c risis-after-hurricane-helene.

Photo credit: Ivanescu, Ella. photography of smoke coming out from tower during daytime.jpg. January 9, 2020. https://unsplash.com/photos/photography-of-smoke-coming-out-from-tower-during-daytime-JbfhNrpQ_dw.