WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: State Leaders Applaud Biden-⁠Harris Administration’s New Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership

Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration launched the first-ever Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership with commitments from 12 leading states: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. These states have committed to supporting the procurement of lower-carbon infrastructure materials, such as concrete and steel, in state-funded projects and to collaborate with the Federal Government and one another to send a harmonized demand signal to the marketplace. Together, these actions will advance America’s industrial capacity to supply the goods and materials of the future while growing good jobs for American workers.

The Federal Government is the largest direct purchaser in the world and a major infrastructure funder. Last year, the Biden-Harris Administration launched the Federal Buy Clean Initiative to leverage the $630 billion of annual purchasing power by the Federal Government to prioritize the use of American-made, low-carbon construction materials in Federal and Federally-funded projects.

As Ali Zaidi, President Biden’s National Climate Advisor, said, “As American workers put steel in the ground and pour the foundation for a new, clean energy economy, we have to make sure that future is built with low-carbon materials made in America. These states are showing true leadership on the climate crisis. By committing to Buy Clean, we can leverage the tremendous purchasing power of government so that American manufacturing competes and leads, creating good jobs, and revitalizing communities across the country.”

Leaders from across the country praised the announcement. Here’s what they’re saying:

California Governor Gavin Newsom: “CA is proud to join the @WhiteHouse Buy Clean Partnership to use sustainable construction materials in building projects. We’re leading the world in progressive climate policy while we work with our partners around the country to create good-paying jobs & protect public health.” [Tweet, 3/8/2023]

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey: “We all have a role to play in reducing emissions and building a cleaner future. Massachusetts applauds the Biden-Harris Administration for launching the Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership and is proud to be a member. We stand ready to collaborate with other states and our federal partners to move forward on our shared goals of expanding U.S. manufacturing of clean materials, decreasing emissions from the industrial sector, and creating good, clean energy jobs.” [Statement, 3/8/2023]

New York Governor Kathy Hochul: “New York is fully committed to supporting clean manufacturing and construction materials that create good-paying jobs and help us fight the climate crisis. Thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, the increased collaboration of Buy Clean policies will reduce emissions, advance American manufacturing and build healthy and resilient communities here in New York. We look forward to this partnership and leveraging the collective purchasing power of our government to move our country toward cleaner and more sustainable infrastructure.” [Statement, 3/8/2023]

Washington Governor Jay Inslee: “I welcome today’s White House announcements that will accelerate our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support American manufacturing at the same time. As a member of the Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership, we’re ready to work together with Washington industry to pursue federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for reducing emissions from industry and manufacturing as we transition to a cleaner future. The administration’s $6 billion in grants to reduce emissions from industrial manufacturing will help us greatly.” [Statement, 3/8/2023]

Kara Cook, Senior Advisor, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer: “Proud that Michigan is participating in this initiative to bolster clean manufacturing and purchasing in our state and across the country.” [Tweet, 3/8/2023]

Casey Katims, Executive Director, United States Climate Alliance: “With this Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership, Alliance states are once again joining forces to move markets and build a cleaner, greener future across America.” [Statement, 3/8/2023]

Jason Walsh, Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance: “The new Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership will give certainty to businesses that there is a large, stable market to buy these cleaner products. How we buy things matters. The administration’s efforts to transform our federal procurement process will benefit U.S. workers and the environment.” [Statement, 3/8/2023]

Sierra Club: “[The Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership] will help ensure that as the United States invests big in decarbonizing its steel, cement, aluminum, and other industrial facilities, it also fosters market demand for their low carbon outputs. Together, these measures will help spur innovation and build a cleaner, globally competitive, and resilient domestic industrial manufacturing base for the clean economy.” [Statement, 3/8/2023]

Third Way Climate and Energy: “Through these commitments, the federal and state governments will create a more robust market for cleaner industrial materials, which US manufacturers and workers from across the country stand ready to produce. This is a win for US industry, the climate, and American workers and their communities, who will benefit from a revitalization of the American manufacturing sector.” [Tweet, 3/10/2023]

Mike Williams, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress: “The combo of direct public $ and support + establishment of market for these cleaner goods via Buy Clean is the exact type of industrial policy needed to support domestic mfg in a decarbonized world!” [Tweet, 3/8/2023]

Climate Group: “[The Federal-State] Buy Clean announcement is a transformational step in normalizing net zero industrial policies and technology into the economy.” [Tweet, 3/8/2023]

Center for Climate and Energy Solutions: “Some great news on state & federal government collaboration on #BuyClean initiatives! Due to its scale & nature, public procurement has the power to catalyze new and growing markets for low-carbon goods. Aligning state and federal policies is key to improving their effectiveness.” [Tweet, 3/8/2023]

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