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Vaibhav Vijay (Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov)
Kyla Gill (Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov)

Rep. Summer Lee Celebrates 2nd Anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act at Solar-Powered Crafton Heights United Presbyterian Church

Pittsburgh, PA — Today, Rep. Summer Lee joined PennEnvironment and other local leaders at Crafton Heights United Presbyterian Church to celebrate the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the largest-ever investment in climate and clean energy in U.S. history. The event highlighted the church’s transition to solar energy, demonstrating the tangible benefits of the IRA for houses of worship and other nonprofits.

The visit included a press conference where Rep. Lee, Pastor Dave Carver, and PennEnvironment’s Zachary Barber spoke about the significance of the IRA in promoting clean energy adoption and environmental justice. Following the press conference, attendees toured the solar panels installed on the church’s roof, showcasing how federal incentives have made renewable energy more accessible for local communities.

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“The Inflation Reduction Act is a big deal—the largest investment in clean energy in U.S. history, with nearly $370 billion in climate spending. It’s designed to achieve a 40% emissions reduction by 2030, which is a huge step forward. And for the first time, non-profits, governments, schools, houses of worship, and other tax-exempt entities can benefit from tax credits and rebates for clean energy investments,” said Rep. Summer Lee. “Churches like Crafton Heights United Presbyterian are going green, and our neighborhoods are starting to breathe a little easier. But let’s be real—the Inflation Reduction Act is just a step, not the finish line. It shows us what’s possible when we put environmental justice front and center.”

“There’s never been a better time for houses of worship to use the power of the sun to electrify their congregations,” said Zachary Barber, clean air advocate for PennEnvironment. “Plentiful sunshine and generous solar incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act are here. Now congregations in Pennsylvania just need to tap into the program and take advantage of them.” 

“Our congregation at the First U.P. Church of Crafton Heights (CHUP) has long been eager to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. We are committed to being good stewards of our planet by embracing renewable energy sources and hope our actions will inspire others to explore such investment,” said Pastor Dave Carver. “The Tax Credits provided for in the Inflation Reduction Act gave us the encouragement we needed.”

Background
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed two years ago, marks a significant milestone in the United States’ commitment to combating climate change. The legislation is expected to lead to a 48% increase in solar deployment over the next decade compared to a scenario without the IRA. By 2033, solar energy will produce more electricity each year than all U.S. coal-fired power plants in 2022. The IRA also includes provisions that allow tax-exempt organizations like houses of worship to directly claim clean energy tax credits, making investments in solar panels and electric vehicles more affordable.

Over the next 10 years, the IRA is projected to drive over $565 billion in new clean energy investments and create an additional 137,000 jobs in the solar industry alone. In Pennsylvania, more than 158,550 residents have already claimed over $260 million in tax credits for energy efficiency improvements on their homes in 2023.

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Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $1.85 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 2,300 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.