The Vice President addresses the new Inflation Reduction Act and visits those affected by the Buffalo shooting four months ago.
By Maria Rivera
Photo by Douglas Levere
University at Buffalo student Srikrithi Krishnan introduced Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, Sept. 14. People gathered to listen to hear about the goals and achievments of the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act.
UB is a leader in sustainability efforts and the city of Buffalo has been working hard over the last decade to boast cleaner and more efficient energy. Places like General Motors in Lockport are taking advantage of the new investments by switching production to car batteries for more electric vehicles.
New York’s goals are ambitious, and they include 10,000 megawatts of distributed solar energy. To gain perspective, UB’s solar farm produces ¾ of 1 megawatt. The investment will be huge and plays a part in achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035.
VP Kamala Harris acknowledges that the climate crisis is important to the younger generations, and said “Your generation has experienced every one of the 10 hottest summers on record,” and how it has become normal for students to see wildfires, droughts, and the toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie.
Harris emphasized that this act will create new jobs for many, and states that one of her goals is to allow families to upgrade their homes to solar energy. This upgrade leads to cheaper energy bills and cleaner air. She also spoke on the lack of environmental justice and equity in both poor communities and the black and brown communities. Harris wants to hold pollutors accountable and address the harms of pollution, while also fighting for equal public health and clean energy.
She urges students to take action, wanting everyone to fight together to avoid past mistakes and remind everyone of their future potential. “We are so proud of you,” she says.