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11/29/2023

New U.S. Department of the Treasury Analysis: Inflation Reduction Act Driving Clean Energy Investment to Underser…

New U.S. Department of the Treasury Analysis: Inflation
Reduction Act Driving Clean Energy Investment to Underserved
Communities, Communities at the Forefront of Fossil Fuel
Production
November 29, 2023

Investments in historical energy communities have grown especially quickly, and most
investments are landing in disadvantaged counties
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury published new analysis on the
impact of the Inflation Reduction Act in driving clean energy investment to communities that
have been underserved and at the forefront of fossil fuel production.
In the analysis, Treasury economists observe that investments in Inflation Reduction Actrelated sectors of the economy since the law passed grew especially quickly in energy
communities—communities historically dependent on fossil energy jobs and tax revenues,
including areas with closed coal mines or coal-fired power plants, as well as communities that
have significant employment or local tax revenues from fossil fuels and higher than average
unemployment. This initial data suggests the Inflation Reduction Act is achieving its goal of
revitalizing communities at the forefront of fossil fuel production where potential exists, but
opportunity has been scarce.
“President Bidenʼs Investing in America agenda and the Inflation Reduction Act are achieving
their goals of revitalizing communities that have been overlooked and need public investment
to unlock private capital. Treasury analysis shows that funding is going where itʼs needed
most across the country, not just to the coasts or to wealthy communities,” said Secretary of
the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “The American economy is more productive when communities
can realize their full potential, and more than one year into implementation of the law, there is
strong evidence thatʼs happening.”
The analysis also concluded that investments across all technologies supported by the
Inflation Reduction Act have been largely landing in economically disadvantaged counties
with below average wages, household incomes, employment rates, and college graduation

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1931

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11/29/2023

New U.S. Department of the Treasury Analysis: Inflation Reduction Act Driving Clean Energy Investment to Underser…

rates. This analysis updates earlier studies from the Treasury with more granular data
produced by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Rhodium Group.
81% of clean investment dollars announced since the Inflation Reduction Act passed have
been for projects in counties with below-average weekly wages.
86% of clean investment dollars since the Inflation Reduction Act passed are landing in
counties with below-average college graduation rates.
70% of clean investment dollars since the Inflation Reduction Act passed are in counties
where a smaller share of the population is employed.
78% of clean investment dollars since the Inflation Reduction Act passed are in counties
with below-average median household incomes.
The share of clean investment dollars going to low-income counties rose from 68% to
78% when the Inflation Reduction Act passed.
Treasuryʼs analysis shows that investments in the clean energy economy are
disproportionately benefitting economically disadvantaged communities. This is a prime
example of what Secretary Yellen calls “modern supply-side economics,” with economic
research showing investments in communities like these have the highest “bang for the buck”
by unlocking untapped opportunities.
Eric Van Nostrand, P.D.O. Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy and Matthew Ashenfarb,
Research Economist in the O ice of Climate & Energy write, “Before the Inflation Reduction
Act was signed in August 2022, announced bonus-eligible investment was about $2 billion per
month in Energy Communities and $2.5 billion per month in the rest of the United States. A er
the IRA was signed, clean energy investment announcements increased to $5 billion per
month in Energy Communities and about $4 billion per month in non-Energy Communities. Put
simply, clean energy investment is booming throughout the United States, and investment is
growing even faster in Energy Communities.”
Full text of the analysis is available here.
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1931

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