The Inflation Reduction Act: A Big Deal for People and the Planet

August 26, 2022

The other day, I had the honor and privilege of joining President Biden as he signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act — the most aggressive action in tackling the climate crisis in U.S. history. This law will reduce harmful air pollution, advance environmental justice, and save families money on their energy bills. It will help us move further and faster than ever before to confront the pressing environmental challenges we face.

Simply put, this is game-changing for EPA and life-changing for so many Americans.

I’ve traveled across the country as Administrator and have seen firsthand the devastating impacts climate change is having on millions of Americans.

I toured Lake Mead in Nevada where the water is dropping to frightening low levels due to drought and extreme heat.

I spoke with farmers in Iowa and North Carolina about the challenges they face from climate change, threatening our food and agricultural systems.

I met with families who reside up and down the Houston Ship Channel – communities that often inhale harmful air pollution because of the industrial facilities just blocks away.

The Inflation Reduction Act will bring bigger and bolder progress to tackle these issues.

So, here’s how this law will deliver for all people and the planet ...

Tackling Climate Pollution

President Biden made clear that America would resume its position as the global leader on climate change. This law does that.

• We’re going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 1 gigaton in 2030 (that’s a billion metric tons). This is 10 times more climate impact than any other single piece of legislation ever enacted!
• We're going to reduce methane pollution — a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide — emitted from oil and gas sources.
• We are putting America on track to meet President Biden’s climate goals, and families that take advantage of clean energy and electric vehicle tax credits will save more than $1,000 per year.

Advancing Environmental Justice

When President Biden took office, he vowed to change the way government works and who it works for – and every day, EPA has been working hard to fulfill that commitment. That’s why I’m deeply proud that the Inflation Reduction Act invests $60 billion to accelerate environmental justice work across the government.

• We are going to empower underserved communities to confront longstanding pollution changes with billions of dollars in grant funding. We know that solutions don’t come from Washington, DC – they come from the communities on the ground. That’s exactly what this law delivers.
• We are going to provide grants and technical assistance to schools serving low-income communities so they can address ongoing air pollution and improve the health and safety for students and staff.

Delivering Cleaner Air

Everyone deserves clean air to breathe. With the unprecedented resources from the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is going to reduce harmful air pollution where people live, work, play, and go to school.

• We’re going to reduce air pollution around schools and ports by replacing dirty trucks and heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission options. This means that your neighborhood garbage truck could become an electric garbage truck.
• We’re investing in air monitoring in underserved communities so we can better understand and address air pollution.
• By deploying clean energy and reducing particle pollution from fossil fuels, we will avoid up to 3,900 premature deaths and up to 100,000 asthma attacks annually by 2030.

This is a moment unlike any other in our history. For more than three decades, scientists, advocates, young people, and Indigenous peoples have been sounding the alarm about the crisis we face.

They urged those in power to act, so that all of us could live in a healthier, more just world.

It’s been a long time coming. It’s taken the heart and soul, sweat and tears of so many people to get us to this point. But President Biden pledged to deliver a clean, secure, and equitable future for our children. He worked with stakeholders across labor, climate, business, and environmental justice — and he delivered.

EPA is excited. We are ready. And we are committed to continue building that future. Let’s go!

About the Author

Michael Regan
EPA Administrator
Office of the Administrator

Michael S. Regan was sworn in as the 16th Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency on March 11, 2021, becoming the first Black man and second person of color to lead the U.S. EPA.

Prior to his nomination as EPA Administrator, Michael Regan served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) where he spearheaded the development and implementation of North Carolina's seminal plan to address climate change and transition the state to a clean energy economy.

Previously, Administrator Regan served as Associate Vice President of U.S. Climate and Energy, and as Southeast Regional Director of the Environmental Defense Fund. He began his career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, eventually becoming a national program manager responsible for designing strategic solutions with industry and corporate stakeholders to reduce air pollution, improve energy efficiency and address climate change.

Throughout his career, he has been guided by a belief in forming consensus, fostering an open dialogue rooted in respect for science and the law, and an understanding that environmental protection and economic prosperity go hand in hand.

A native of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Administrator Regan is a graduate of the North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University – making him the first EPA Administrator to have graduated from a Historically Black College and University. He earned a master's degree in Public Administration from The George Washington University. He and his wife Melvina are proud parents to their son, Matthew.