WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Jobs in Energy Manufacturing Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) will create jobs and support coal communities by investing in the construction and expansion of manufacturing facilities that produce clean energy technologies. This investment is vital to spur the technologies and products needed to support U.S. leadership in the climate economy.

The bipartisan bill, which revives the 48C Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit, will ensure communities that have powered our nation for generations are not left behind in the transition to clean power.

“This landmark legislation keeps faith with the essential idea that clean energy solutions need to work for every community across the country — and cannot leave frontline and coal communities behind,” said Shannon Heyck-Williams, director of climate and energy policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “This legislation will direct tax credits to communities and ultimately hardworking families in places like West Virginia that have lost energy jobs over the past few years. We will work with Congress to not only support this critical policy, but also to ensure the credits go to the most worthy projects.”

The bill expands access to the tax credit for additional clean manufacturing enterprises that are low-carbon, such as technologies to make vehicle charging stations, capture carbon, and modernize the electric grid. It also applies to sectors that may not be good for the climate or wildlife like corn ethanol and petrochemicals. The National Wildlife Federation has longstanding concerns about the implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard and the resulting impacts of corn ethanol on wildlife habitat, water quantity, and climate change. The organization will continue to work with Congress to ensure that this bill does not lead to expansion of corn ethanol facilities.

If enacted, the Department of Energy would ultimately be responsible for evaluating eligible projects and awarding credits to those with the best environmental, employment, and community impacts.