The Inflation Reduction Act drives US renewable energy transition, creating thousands of union jobs in Minnesota.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is driving the US's transition to renewable energy and creating thousands of union jobs, particularly in Minnesota. The Climate Jobs National Research Center estimates that 6,285 utility-scale clean energy projects in development across the US, potentially creating 10,382 jobs, are eligible for IRA tax credits tied to labor standards. The labor standards require developers to pay a prevailing wage and hire a minimum number of apprentices for the 30% tax credit, while those who don't comply face a 6% credit. This shift has led to increased use of union labor on solar and wind projects, boosting construction workers' wages while attracting billions of dollars in investments in transmission lines for Minnesota's electric grid.