Democrats call for green energy relief in next stimulus package

Nearly 60 Democrats are calling on leaders to include help for the renewable energy industry in the next stimulus package. 

“As Congress works to help the American economy recover, we must ensure robust investments are made to spur growth in renewable energy, energy storage, energy efficiency, clean vehicles, clean and efficient infrastructure, clean fuels, and workforce development,” lawmakers wrote in a letter spearheaded by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

“These investments should both spur national growth and include funding opportunities for community-level adoption. Smart investments in these areas can help America decarbonize, put people back to work, and help our national, state, and local economies recover,” they wrote.

The wind and solar industries, like many others, have been hit hard by the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus, losing nearly 600,000 jobs.

Those job losses come amid a growing cry from sections of the Democratic party to focus future stimulus bills on efforts that could help fight climate change.

Some Democrats have similarly asked for leaders to establish a modern day Civilian Conservation Corps to fund conservation jobs in rural areas.