Philadelphia, PA  –  July 16, 2024  – Today, local leaders, clean energy workers, and students joined with America is All In – the most expansive coalition of leaders ever assembled in support of U.S. climate action – to kick off a week-long celebration of Philadelphia’s clean energy jobs, which have grown thanks to historic levels of investment from the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, and American Rescue Plan. The fourth stop on the America Is All In Tour highlighted the critical role workforce development programs play in creating good-paying clean energy jobs.

To coincide with the visit to the Keystone State, America Is All In shared new polling which reveals widespread support (71%) for the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) investments to promote clean energy and sustainability, including 89% of Democrats, 50% of Republicans, and 66% of Independents. Conducted between May 10-16, the poll of 987 registered Pennsylvania voters found that Pennsylvanians convincingly believe that the IRA “helps people like you” in several important ways, including:

• 63% who think that the IRA helps reduce air pollution and improve health
• 53% who think that the IRA will make homes more comfortable and energy efficient
• 56% who believe that it will help lower energy bills for families

This new polling comes on the heels of new data from Climate Power that revealed there have been $889.3 million in new clean energy investments and 2,398 new jobs created across Pennsylvania since the IRA became law two years ago.

“I applaud Philadelphia for the work the city is doing to provide workers with the skills and training they need for good-paying clean energy jobs that save families money on their energy bills, reduce air pollution, and tackle the climate crisis,” said Gina McCarthy, Managing Co-Chair of America Is All In and former White House National Climate Advisor. “Innovative local leaders, combined with historic federal funding thanks to the Biden administration, are helping Philadelphia build safer, healthier, stronger economies from the ground up.”

The America Is All In Tour stop began with a visit to Bright Solar Futures (BSF) Program, a Philadelphia Energy Authority-supported program for students interested in careers in clean energy. This summer, BSF students from Frankford High School are teaching basic solar principles to middle school students learning building trades at Mayfair Elementary School. The BSF summer program nurtures education and interest in renewable energy and building trades. Rue Landau, Philadelphia City Councilmember and America Is All In leaders met with students to discuss the career possibilities in clean energy.

“These inspiring students already recognize the exciting opportunities that clean energy can provide and their role in our clean energy future,” said Elizabeth Lien, America Is All In, Program Lead. “Workforce development is critical to the clean energy transition, and it’s encouraging that the next generation of climate problem solvers are already preparing to protect the environment and improve public health in their communities.”

The tour stop continued with a celebration of graduates from a local green retrofit training and job placement program. The Green Retrofit Immersive Training (GRIT) program, led by the Philadelphia Energy Authority, Energy Coordinating Agency, Episcopal Community Services, Beyond Literacy, and Friends Rehabilitation Program provides Philadelphians hands-on labs, internship experience, certification preparedness, and job placement with contractors performing green home retrofits that save consumers money on their energy bills. This 18-week training is funded in-part through a $500 million program in the American Rescue Plan to train a qualified and diverse clean energy workforce.

America Is All In’s tour stop concluded with a roundtable discussion with local leaders, “Leveraging Federal Dollars to Supercharge the Philadelphia Region’s Clean Energy Transition and Create Good-Paying Jobs.” Attendees included Maryrose Myrtetus, Executive Director, Philadelphia Green Capital Corp; Emily Schapira, CEO and President, Philadelphia Energy Authority; Steve Luxton, Executive Director, Energy Coordinating Agency; Christine Knapp, Community Innovation and Technical Assistance Program Manager of the Department of Energy’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs, and Jerome Shabazz, Co-Chair, EPA National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) and Executive Director of the Overbrook Environmental Education Center.

“Thanks to a deep partnership between the city, state, federal government and local nonprofits, we are building a cleaner and greener Philadelphia – all while strengthening our workforce and providing good paying jobs to our residents,” said Emily Schapira, President and CEO, Philadelphia Energy Authority.

The week-long celebration of Philadelphia’s clean energy jobs and the tremendous economic opportunities they provide will continue with RE+ is the largest clean energy event in North America.

This America Is All In Tour stop follows successful stops in Cleveland, Seattle, and Miami earlier this year.

###

About America Is All In

America Is All In is the most expansive coalition of leaders ever assembled in support of climate action in the United States. Mobilizing thousands of U.S. cities, states, tribal nations, businesses, schools, and faith, health, and cultural institutions, the coalition is focused on pushing and partnering with the federal government to develop an ambitious, all-in national climate strategy that meets the urgency of the climate crisis; scaling climate action around the country to accelerate the transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy; and promoting the leadership of non-federal actors on the world stage.

Led by the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions Michael R. Bloomberg, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Apple Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson, and former White House National Climate Advisor and 13th U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, America Is All In, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, is driving a nationwide movement to cut U.S. emissions in half or more by 2030 from 2005 levels and reach net zero emissions by 2050, while guarding against the impacts of climate disruption.

Alongside whole-of-government action on climate, America Is All In champions a whole-of-society mobilization to deliver the transformational change that science demands, with the goal of a healthy, prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future. To learn more or get involved, visit www.americaisallin.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Andrew Overton
America Is All In
siham.zniber@fgsglobal.com

For general America Is All In inquiries, 
Avery Cullinan
America Is All In
Avery.Cullinan@americaisallin.com