Interior Secretary and Rep. Raul Ruiz discuss Bipartisan Infrastructure Law effects on local communities
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz highlighted how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help local, state, and tribal communities, including California’s 36th District. Specifically in regards to climate change, job creation, environmental justice, and local economies.
President Joe Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law in November. It is set to deliver money for roads, bridges, safe water, internet access, clean energy, and public transit.
“Renewable energy including solar onshore and offshore, wind, geothermal and wave and tidal energy projects will help communities across the country to be part of the climate solution while creating thousands and thousands of good paying union jobs," said Haaland.
She said the Department of the Interior is working to implelement the new infastructure law as soon as possible.
“The law will make historic investments in protecting our communities from the worsening impacts of climate change by boosting climate resiliency and replacing aging infrastructure," said Haaland.
Ruiz said the law would help the surrounding Salton Sea communities to become a global leader in manufacturing lithium batteries. He adds that $7 billion will be invested in lithium battery manufacturing from the infrastructure law.
“So it is going to be a game-changer for our entire nation and there is a lot of interests in the Salton Sea with the lithium, not just in the federal government, but also in the state of California," said Ruiz. "And so we're working together to have a lithium boom.”
Ruiz said the law will invest money into solar energy projects like the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm. That’s where Ruiz and Haaland toured the onshore renewable energy projects.
“The demand for renewable energy has never been greater," said Haaland.
Both leaders said that investing in renewable energy will bring more jobs to the valley and help the local economy.
