Letter to the editor: Clean energy is our future

As an Army veteran, I believe the transition to clean energy is essential to our national strength and prosperity. I’m so baffled to see Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., attacking the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a bill that finally gave us the tools we need to tackle the climate crisis and move our economy forward into the future.

The IRA supports smart agriculture practices, which helps Pennsylvania’s 52,700 farms lead on climate solutions and rewards their stewardship. Electric cooperatives, which serve about 220,000 homes, businesses and other customers in Pennsylvania, will for the first time be eligible for direct-pay clean energy tax credits. This legislation dedicates investments for rural electric cooperatives that boost resiliency, reliability and affordability through clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades.

The IRA has created more than 140,000 jobs in clean energy, manufacturing, transportation and building efficiency. Over the next decade experts say the total number of new jobs will exceed 9 million. That’s important for our veteran community, since veterans are overrepresented in the clean energy sector. Growth in this industry means many more of us will have high-quality jobs with good wages.

June Spence

West Newton