SEEC Climate Jobs Task Force Leaders Urge Good Jobs Principles at DOE

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Climate Jobs Task Force Co-Chairs — Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Nikki Budzinski, and Mark DeSaulnier — along with four of the Task Force members, sent a letter to Secretary Granholm urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to incorporate the Good Jobs Principles as it implements the historic investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. By proactively retaining and creating good union jobs during the implementation phase of these climate-forward bills, DOE can give workers across the nation the opportunity to participate in the American clean energy future.

“We write to congratulate you on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) proactive implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These laws will retain and create family sustaining union jobs that will give all workers in the United States the opportunity to enter the middle-class, while simultaneously preventing the worst impacts of climate change and lowering energy costs for consumers. As implementation continues, it is crucial that the “Good Jobs Principles” developed and published by the Departments of Labor and Commerce are consistently applied across agencies and programs, including DOE,” the Task Force members wrote.

“Both BIL and IRA represent landmark policy victories that set the stage for major economic transformation if implemented correctly. To achieve the Biden Administration’s goal of bringing the benefits of these investments to workers and communities, we ask DOE to fully apply these Good Jobs Principles, adopt a discerning approach with applicants who newly moved facilities to Right to Work states, and work across federal agencies to make worker protections and good-paying jobs priorities in the implementation of historic investments in domestic manufacturing.”

The letter can be found here.

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The Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) is a coalition of 92 members of the U.S. House of Representatives that was founded in January 2009 to be a focused, active, and effective coalition for advancing policies that address climate change, promote clean energy innovation and domestic manufacturing, develop renewable energy resources, create family-sustaining clean jobs, protect our nation’s air, water, and natural environment, and promote environmental justice.

SEEC Co-Chairs are Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Paul Tonko (D-NY).

SEEC Vice Chairs are Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and Katie Porter (D-CA).

SEEC Chair Emeritus is Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA).