Energy News Network: Climate mayors’ top priority under Trump: Defend the IRA

“It’s going to be incumbent upon mayors, and also Republican governors and members of Congress who have seen the benefits of these investments, to make the business case to the Trump-Vance administration,” Bibb said.

The stakes in his city include a $575 million commitment to help mining company Cleveland-Cliffs transition to green steel production, as well as a $129 million regional grant that’s funding solar projects on brownfields and former landfills. Tax incentives under the law spurred an area welding equipment company to launch a line of electric vehicle fast charging stations. 

“I don’t want to cede our innovation in the EV sector to China. I don’t want to cede our innovation around green energy and renewables to Europe,” Bibb said. “We have to make the case … on why these investments are important for America’s national security and America’s economic competitiveness.”

To make that case, Climate Mayors hopes to enlist allies, including Republican elected officials and business leaders. Bibb noted that Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods has publicly urged Trump not to abandon U.S. leadership on climate change.

“I think it’s going to be [about] having the right kind of conversation to make the case to this incoming leadership in the White House,” Bibb said.

And if that doesn’t work, expect Climate Mayors to keep pushing for ways to act collectively to advance climate and clean energy. For example, the organization announced a commitment this summer by more than 350 mayors to electrify half of their fleets and increase EV chargers by at least 500% by 2030.

“We’ve been here before. We’ll get through this,” Bibb said, but “it’s going to be a lot harder if we don’t have a federal partner in Washington, D.C.”