WASHINGTON — Today, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) announced the launch of a new task force, the Accelerating Clean Energy (ACE) Task Force, which will be led by CPC Vice Chair Jared Huffman (CA-02). Under Huffman’s leadership, the task force will develop a blueprint for expeditiously achieving the benefits of the 117th Congress’ historic investments in clean energy.
The task force’s charge is to clearly understand the challenges of implementation of clean energy projects, to work with the Biden administration and external partners, and to develop recommendations for administrative and legislative reforms to permitting that will assist in more rapidly bringing new renewable energy projects online, upgrading and modernizing the electrical grid to enable the United States to meet President Biden's goal of reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2030. The ACE Task Force will include Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee and CPC Chair Emeritus Representative Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), and CPC members Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Mike Levin (CA-49), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), and Paul Tonko (NY-20), as well as Chair Jayapal.
“Driven by the urgency of the climate crisis, CPC members stepped up last Congress to shape and pass transformative legislation that sets the United States on the path to decarbonization. With the ACE Task Force, the CPC is showing our commitment to ensuring that these reforms and investments are implemented with the same sense of urgency to meet our climate goals and deliver the broad benefits of a clean energy economy while upholding environmental justice as a core value,” said Rep. Huffman. “We will examine the real factors that have held up clean energy projects, acknowledge recent executive actions and last year’s $1 billion investment in clean energy permit streamlining, and recommend additional strategies to expedite clean energy project completion. We can meet our clean energy goals without sacrificing bedrock environmental laws, throwing disadvantaged communities under the bus, or passing Trojan Horse legislation to help the fossil fuel industry.”
“I’m thrilled to announce our formation of the first-ever CPC task force dedicated to answering the urgent question of how we can speed up our transition to renewable energy without abandoning our climate goals,” said Rep. Jayapal. “Progressives have always been clear: we were not opposed to permitting reform itself, but rather to policies that are counterproductive to a clean energy future. This task force has been charged with developing a clear picture of where permitting reforms are needed, and of what administrative and legislative action can and must be done to accomplish those reforms. Our future on a livable planet depends on the speed with which we can meet this moment to implement the Inflation Reduction Act, disburse the funding allocated for clean energy, and modernize permitting law, all the while ensuring that we are not giving with one hand and taking away with the other when it comes to addressing the urgent crisis of climate justice.”
Task Force Background
The IIJA and IRA had record investments for clean and renewable energy deployment, preparing for greater climate resilience, as well as creating jobs and protecting environmental justice communities. To ensure that our nation can maximize the full benefits of these important wins, this task force seeks to work with the Biden administration to ensure a rapid and efficient roll out of new projects and programs and will ensure federal action to build greater efficiencies for clean energy and transmission. The task force will work on policies that advance energy, water, and transmission permitting, allowing for new rapid infrastructure buildout while protecting communities and environmental justice populations.
