Every Spring, Congress starts the process of deciding on next year’s federal budget, which contains funding for agencies and departments that help drive climate and clean energy progress.
Stepping up investment in climate innovation – the creation of new or enhanced climate solutions that lower pollution, create jobs and cut energy costs – should be a priority for next year’s budget. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act injected new funding for climate innovation this year, including for projects to pilot carbon removal technology, battery storage and low carbon fuels, but we need innovation funding to continue growing in the coming years.
Despite the escalating challenges brought on by climate change, recent EDF analysis found that the U.S. is still under-funding key climate solutions and technologies, including clean transportation, clean industry and manufacturing, and some renewable energy programs in the Department of Energy. Meanwhile, other countries have raced to increase the pace and scale of their innovation investments, competing with American leadership in clean energy technology.
Lawmakers have an opportunity to help get the country on track by ramping up U.S. investment in climate innovation in next year’s budget. And recent national polling by Morning Consult, commissioned by EDF, makes clear that a bipartisan majority of voters support bolstering federal funding.