Eighteen months into its implementation, the Inflation Reduction Act has brought companies and jobs to West Virginia.
The Inflation Reduction Act became law in 2022 with the intent of bringing new clean energy manufacturing to traditional energy communities.
Since then, according to E2, a group of business leaders and investors, it has spurred more than $1.3 billion in investment in the state and created 850 jobs.
The companies include Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Gestamp, Form Energy and Solar Holler.
Berkshire Hathaway is building a solar-powered microgrid on the site of a former aluminum plant in Ravenswood.
Gestamp will make parts for electric vehicles at its plant in South Charleston. Form Energy will build storage batteries at a plant it’s constructing in Weirton.
And Solar Holler is powering the entire Wayne County school system with solar panels.
E2 has tallied a total of 305 projects in 41 states spurred by the law. They represent more than $123 billion in investment and more than $125,000 jobs.
Solar Holler is an underwriter of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.