Why climate advocates are happy with Biden's spending framework


The White House unveiled the Biden administration's $1.75 trillion Build Back Better framework on Thursday, laying out the legislation's plans for affordable housing, child tax credits, and many other investments. While proponents of paid family leave were certainly disappointed the measure was nixed from the proposal, those keeping tabs on the framework's efforts to combat climate change were much happier.
The bill is allocating $555 billion for climate-related projects and clean energy initiatives. The breakdown, according to CNN climate reporter Ella Nilsen, shakes out to $320 billion toward clean energy and electric vehicle tax credits, $105 billion to build up climate resilience, $110 billion for clean energy technology and supply chains, and $20 billion toward procurement of clean energy. One of the elements that's particularly exciting for climate advocates, Nilsen reports, is the electric vehicle rebate. Drivers can get up to $12,500 in EV tax rebates if their vehicle is U.S.-made, a "hefty" enough chunk of money that consumers "are definitely going to notice," writes clean energy reporter David Roberts.
One major reason the climate allocations would be a big win for the White House is that the $555 billion will put the U.S. on track to meet its 50-52 percent emissions reduction goal by 2030. According to Princeton University's Jesse Jenkins' analysis, "it's very likely that the Build Back Better Framework deal announced by [President Biden] today will deliver the necessary emissions reductions to put the U.S. right on track for (or at least well within reach of) Biden's 2030 climate pledge to reach 50% below 2005 emissions." Jenkins agreed with the White House's evaluation that the BBB framework would be "the largest effort to combat climate change in American history."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Of course, the bill has to actually make it through Congress before Biden can really pat himself on the back. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), whose deep ties to the coal industry have faced scrutiny as negotiations continue, has pushed Democrats to further slim the bill's climate provisions. Perhaps overly-optimistically, Biden said Thursday that "everybody" is on board with the latest framework.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Critics push back as the government goes after Job Corps
The Explainer For at-risk teens, the program has been a lifeline
-
5 horror movies to sweat out this summer
The Week Recommends A sequel, a reboot and a follow up from the director of 'Barbarian' highlight the upcoming scary movie slate
-
Bryan Burrough's 6 favorite books about Old West gunfighters
Feature The Texas-raised author recommends works by T.J. Stiles, John Boessenecker, and more
-
Depleted FEMA struggling as hurricane season begins
speed read FEMA has lost a third of its workforce amid DOGE cuts enforced by President Donald Trump
-
The Biden cover-up: a 'near-treasonous' conspiracy
Talking Point Using 'Trumpian' tactics, the former president's inner circle maintained a conspiracy of silence around his cognitive and physical decline
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs