APEX, N.C. — Last week, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, setting aside $750 billion for programs dealing with health care, tax reform and climate change. At least $370 billion will go toward clean energy, the largest climate investment in U.S. history.
What You Need To Know
Inflation Reduction Act is expected to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030
Johan Tondeur has dedicated his life to encouraging everyone to be more environmentally conscious
$60 billion will be going toward boosting renewable energy infrastructure in manufacturing for solar panels and wind turbines
Johan Tondeur has dedicated his life to encouraging everyone to be more environmentally conscious.
He and his wife have a three-stage compost station in their backyard, something they started a few years back, using collected food scraps. The final product, what he calls "black gold," is replanted in his yard.
"It’s another way to help with the environment. I mean, ultimately, recycling is great, but this is one way of reusing what you used already. If you can reuse it right here, right now and turn it into something that can produce more green, then there is zero waste," Tondeur said.
He’s an engineer by trade and environmentally conscious by practice, something he learned from his parents when growing up in Belgium. He likes finding solutions not only for himself, but his family, community and the planet.
"This shouldn’t be something that separates us, it should be something that unites us, because ultimately, if we can’t make a sustainable planet, you know, where are we all going to go, right?” Tondeur asked.
And his green lifestyle doesn’t stop at recycling and composting. He drives a hybrid vehicle and has solar panels on his home, leaving him carbon negative, even while he works from home.
"In other words, my solar panels produce more electricity than I use in a year. So, yeah I put extra power on the grid," Tondeur said.
In the Inflation Reduction Act, $60 billion will be going toward boosting renewable energy infrastructure in manufacturing for solar panels and wind turbines.
It’s expected to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. And it even includes tax rebates for those who have and buy electric vehicles.
"No. 1, solar energy really delivers, and it’s not just pie in the sky," Tondeur said.
Tondeur and his wife share a car, but Tondeur also bikes to save on gas. He says we should all be working to make more of a sustainable planet for ourselves and for generations to come.
The Inflation Reduction Act also includes tax breaks for people to go green, including a 10-year consumer tax credit for renewable energy investments in wind and solar.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is also investing millions of dollars to combat climate change across North Carolina. Funding will be divided among 19 projects for local governments and nonprofit organizations to help construct, renovate or purchase and install equipment.