    [Senate Hearing 119-94]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                                             S. Hrg. 119-94

                        SMALL BUSINESSES POWERING THE CLEAN
                                ENERGY ECONOMY

    =======================================================================

                                 FIELD HEARING

                                   BEFORE THE

                          COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS
                              AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

                                     OF THE

                              UNITED STATES SENATE

                        ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                   __________

                                  MAY 9, 2025

                                   __________

          Printed for the use of the Committee on Small Business and
                                Entrepreneurship

    [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

            Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov

                                    __________

                       U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
    60-612                     WASHINGTON : 2025

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
                        ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS

                                  ----------

                            JONI ERNST, Iowa, Chair
                EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts, Ranking Member
    JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho                MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
    RAND PAUL, Kentucky                  JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire
    TIM SCOTT, South Carolina            CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey
    TODD YOUNG, Indiana                  CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware
    JOSH HAWLEY, Missouri                MAZIE K. HIRONO, Hawaii
    TED BUDD, North Carolina             JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
    JOHN R. CURTIS, Utah                 JOHN W. HICKENLOOPER, Colorado
    JAMES C. JUSTICE, West Virginia      ADAM B. SCHIFF, California
    JOHN HUSTED, Ohio
                    Meredith West, Republican Staff Director
                     Sean Moore, Democratic Staff Director

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------

                                  MAY 9, 2025
                               OPENING STATEMENT

                                                                       Page
    Edward J. Markey, Senator from Massachusetts, Ranking Member.....     1

                                   WITNESSES

    Dr. Emily Reichert, CEO, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center,
      Boston, MA.....................................................     3
        Prepared Statement...........................................     6
    Mr. Nick d'Arbeloff, President, Solar Energy Business Association
      of New England, Randolph, MA...................................    14
        Prepared Statement...........................................    17
    Dr. Aisha Francis, President and CEO, Benjamin Franklin Cummings
      Institute of Technology, Boston, MA............................    20
        Prepared Statement...........................................    24
    Mr. Joshua Aviv, CEO, SparkCharge, Somerville, MA................    27
        Prepared Statement...........................................    30

                  ADDITIONAL LETTERS/STATEMENTS FOR THE RECORD

    Joni K. Ernst, Senator from Iowa, Committee Chair................    48

                                FIELD HEARING:
               SMALL BUSINESSES POWERING THE CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY

                                  ----------

                              FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2025

                                   U.S. Senate,
                            Committee on Small Business
                                          and Entrepreneurship,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:00 a.m., at
    Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, 41 Berkeley
    Street, Boston, MA, Hon. Edward J. Markey, Ranking Member of
    the Committee, presiding.
        Present: Senator Markey.

                      STATEMENT OF SENATOR MARKEY

        Senator Markey. Good morning, everyone. The Senate
    Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship will come to
    order.
        As we come to the end of the National Small Business Week,
    we are here today to talk about an issue that is very important
    to all of us here in Massachusetts--the clean energy economy.
    This is one of the fastest growing industries in the United
    States. Nearly 3.5 million Americans work in clean energy, and
    the sector is adding jobs three times faster than the overall
    U.S. workforce, and Massachusetts is leading the way.
        Here in the commonwealth, the clean energy economy supports
    more than 200,000 jobs, an 80 percent increase since 2010. We
    also lead the nation in climate tech start-ups per capita, with
    49 start-ups per 1 million residents. That is what makes us not
    just the Bay State but the Brain State. We are moving to the
    future, technologically.
        Today we are at Franklin Cummings Tech, a school on the
    front lines of making economic and climate justice a reality.
    In 2013, Senator Warren and I, in the Senate, working with
    Congresswoman Pressley in the House, secured $800,000 in
    funding to help launch the school's Center for Energy
    Efficiency and the Trades. I am proud to have helped get such
    an innovative program off of the ground.
        Small businesses play an important role in the clean energy
    economy, but uncertainty and chaos could affect our path to a
    just, livable future for everyone. Our clean energy transition
    isn't just about mitigating the devastating impacts of the
    climate crisis. It is about building an economy with
    accessible, good-paying jobs, and it is about centering
    justice.

        A major part of building this future is supporting the
    small businesses in the industry. We all know small businesses
    are the backbone of the American economy, and that is no
    different here. They account for a significant portion of clean
    energy jobs in the United States. In fact, 75 percent of energy
    efficiency businesses are small businesses, employing 20 or
    fewer workers.
        The Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate bill in
    history, is a down payment for a livable future, and is helping
    small businesses in the clean energy economy thrive. The IRA
    supports jobs and small businesses with tax credits to improve
    energy efficiency in homes, in businesses, produce clean
    energy, and install solar and wind and battery technology. And
    these credits are intentionally designed to favor projects to
    pay prevailing wages and invest in apprenticeship programs.
        In other words, IRA investments mean that a local
    restaurant can lower its electricity bill by installing rooftop
    solar, or the corner store, down the street, can buy electric
    delivery vehicles and install charging stations, allowing
    shoppers to charge up while they grab groceries for the week.
        In addition, the $20 billion in funding from the Greenhouse
    Gas Reduction Fund, the single largest investment in the
    Inflation Reduction Act, and based on my National Climate Bank
    legislation, is projected to generate a combined $250 billion
    in public and private sector funding over the first 10 years of
    the Climate Bank, much of which would support jobs and small
    businesses. That is not me touting my Climate Bank. That is
    McKinsey doing an analysis of how much private sector funding
    would be unleashed by the Climate Bank in the first 10 years.
        But the Trump administration has frozen the money, creating
    uncertainty, and putting small businesses depending on all of
    this funding at risk. We must continue investing in American
    jobs and small businesses by preserving the IRA's tax credits.
    This means investing in clean and efficient energy
    technologies, safeguard Small Business Administration lending
    options, and supporting small business importers and exporters.
        Likewise, the Small Business Administration, or SBA, can
    support low-cost financing of energy-efficient and renewable
    technologies. Low-cost energy loans from the SBA have been used
    by hotels on Cape Cod to install solar panels to lower costs,
    to help hotels survive the winter season.
        The SBA also provides grants to innovative climate tech
    companies through the Small Business Innovation Research and
    Small Business Technology Transfer programs, and has helped
    clean energy ensure that those small businesses expand to
    foreign markets, with grants through the State Trade Expansion
    Program, also known as STEP.
        President Trump's budget, released last week, proposed
    cutting STEP entirely, cutting the State Trade Expansion
    Program. Even as he is talking about tariffs, he wants to
    eliminate the program which would provide that extra help for
    state trade expansion. He also wants to eliminate many other
    key Federal programs that small businesses rely upon.
        The Trump administration is denying small businesses the
    support and the capital they need to keep pushing American
    innovation forward. The clean energy economy is the key to a healthy
    climate future for everyone, and supporting small businesses
    should never be a partisan issue.
        In Massachusetts, we know the importance of investing in
    entrepreneurs. We have built an ecosystem of innovation, where
    start-ups and small businesses are creating the technologies
    that are transforming our world. We need clean energy
    entrepreneurs to develop, install, and maintain the technology
    and infrastructure that are the foundation of our clean energy
    economy. The future of our environment and economy depends upon
    these continued investments in small businesses, and I look
    forward to discussing them in today's field hearing.
        So we have an incredible panel of experts who are joining
    us this morning, and I am going to give each one of them their
    proper introduction, and one by one you are going to hear some
    of the smartest people in America explain why this is a key
    part of our economy, both here and across the nation.
        First up is Dr. Emily Reichert, the Chief Executive Officer
    of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. For more than a
    decade, Emily has been an essential part of what makes
    Massachusetts a climate and clean energy leader. With technical
    and business expertise, Emily led Greentown Labs to become the
    largest climate tech start-up incubator in North America,
    attracting billions in investments and creating thousands of
    jobs. As CEO of MassCEC, Emily is working to develop the clean
    energy workforce and drive equitable growth across
    Massachusetts.
        So Dr. Reichert, thank you so much for being with us.
    Whenever you feel ready, please begin.

     STATEMENT OF EMILY REICHERT, Ph.D., CEO, MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN
                       ENERGY CENTER, BOSTON, MA

        Ms. Reichert. Good morning, Senator Markey. Thank you for
    gathering us here today to discuss the clean energy economy in
    Massachusetts, and specifically the economic impact of clean
    energy small businesses and clean energy workers.
        I want to first thank Franklin Cummings Tech and President
    Aisha Francis for hosting us. At MassCEC we are fortunate to
    have Dr. Francis as a valued member of our board of directors.
        My name is Emily Reichert and I have the honor of serving
    as the CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, also known
    as MassCEC. MassCEC is a quasi-state economic development
    agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy
    and climate tech sector across Massachusetts. We do this to
    spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits,
    and secure long-term economic growth for our residents.
        I appreciate the opportunity to share findings that we have
    gathered as part of MassCEC's annual Clean Energy Industry
    Survey. MassCEC is required by law to submit an annual report
    detailing the state's clean energy industry to the
    Massachusetts legislature. While we are still finalizing the
    report, I would like to share a few highlights with you today.
    The headline is: the Massachusetts clean energy economy is
    strong.
        The clean energy industry has become a major part of the
    Massachusetts economy and has seen continued growth in jobs,
    businesses, and economic impact. There are over 7,500 clean energy
    businesses in Massachusetts, and 58 percent of clean energy
    businesses in Massachusetts are small businesses, with 10 or
    fewer workers.
        The Massachusetts clean energy industry has doubled since
    2010, adding nearly 60,000 jobs. In total, Massachusetts is
    home to over 115,000 clean energy workers. That is 115,000
    Massachusetts residents who rely on work in clean energy
    businesses, many of them small businesses, to support
    themselves and their families.
        But the impact of the industry is much greater than 115,000
    jobs alone, because the Massachusetts clean energy industry
    supports another 43,500 indirect jobs, and nearly 70,000
    induced jobs. Indirect jobs are those outside the clean energy
    sector that provide critical supply chain goods and services
    for the sector, and induced jobs are those that result from
    increased spending in the economy, thanks to the clean energy
    industry.
        In total, the clean energy industry powers 233,427 direct,
    indirect, and induced jobs, according to our recent report.
        As well, the industry has been responsible for generating a
    significant amount of tax dollars, including $5.9 in Federal
    taxes, and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes invested back
    in the economy here. In 2023, the clean energy sector
    contributed $15.9 billion, or about 2 percent, to the
    commonwealth's gross state product.
        However, the numbers in this year's annual industry report
    only reflect clean energy jobs. Massachusetts has a booming
    climate tech sector, as well. We are number one in the U.S. for
    climate tech startups per capita, with many young companies
    emerging from our local universities and growing into
    successful climate tech manufacturing businesses. Recent
    examples who are also grantees of MassCEC's programs include
    Aeroshield Materials, in Waltham, Massachusetts, which is
    developing advanced insulation materials to improve energy
    efficiency in buildings; AM Batteries, in Billerica,
    Massachusetts, which is pioneering cleaner, more efficient ways
    to make batteries for electric vehicles and other energy
    storage applications; and Clean Crop Technologies in Holyoke,
    Massachusetts, which is using innovative technology to keep
    food fresher or longer and cut waste across the food supply
    chain.
        Another exciting highlight of the report is that the
    Massachusetts clean energy industry is a statewide industry.
    Seventy-four percent of clean energy businesses are outside of
    the greater Boston area. These workers and small businesses are
    improving the quality of life for countless residents across
    Massachusetts. They are making lives more affordable and more
    comfortable. They are helping drivers switch to cleaner
    electric vehicles. They are helping homeowners and businesses
    make their homes and commercial buildings healthier and more
    efficient. They are reducing pollution and building a future
    with cleaner air and water. And they are helping us accelerate
    the transition to clean energy sources that are more reliable
    and more secure.
        The continued growth of the clean energy industry is
    already vital to the well-being of many Massachusetts families.
    But we know we have more work to do to grow jobs and ensure
    everyone can take part in the benefits of clean energy. Women
    and minority workers continue to be underrepresented in the
    industry, and thatis why equitable workforce development is one
    of our top priorities at MassCEC.
        Massachusetts needs roughly 28,000 additional workers to
    meet our 2030 climate goals, but 37 percent of clean energy
    employers reported that they found it very difficult to hire
    qualified workers. That is why yesterday I traveled to Essex
    North Shore Technical and Agricultural High School in Danvers,
    Massachusetts, to announce $7.3 million in workforce
    development grants to 25 incredible organizations across the
    commonwealth, including community colleges, unions, and
    technical high schools. These grants will support local
    organizations working to build training pipelines, raise
    awareness, and expand access to clean energy jobs.
        On a global scale, the clean energy transition is
    unstoppable. But the competition is fierce and other countries
    are moving forward.
        The progress we have made over the past 15 years here in
    Massachusetts is incredible, and we have much to be proud of.
    This work wouldn't be possible without people coming together
    across higher education, government, labor, industry, and the
    nonprofit sector.
        Massachusetts is a climate leader and a hub for innovation,
    and will continue to grow the clean energy industry and
    accelerate climate tech solutions. But without reliable Federal
    investments, our entrepreneurs and small businesses will
    suffer, and when small businesses suffer, so do workers,
    consumers, and entire communities. This is the time when we
    should strengthen our support for clean energy small businesses
    and workers, as well as the researchers and innovators who
    drive ground-breaking climate solutions.
        I appreciate the opportunity to speak about positive
    economic impact of the clean energy small businesses and the
    workers who power this growing industry in Massachusetts.
    Senator Markey, thank you again for inviting MassCEC to testify
    today. I look forward to your questions.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Reichert follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Senator Markey. Thank you so much, Doctor. And you are
    right. This is a global revolution. Last year, for the first
    time in history, there was more funding invested into solar
    than in oil, for the first time in history. So this is no
    longer some small piece of the whole clean energy or energy
    economy, in general. It is just growing exponentially. So thank
    you so much, Doctor.
        Next we have Nick d'Arbeloff, President of the Board for
    the Solar Energy Business Association of New England, or
    SEBANE. SEBANE is a collection of solar energy companies in New
    England, including residential and commercial developers,
    installers, and consultants, and manufacturers. Nick is also
    Head of Market Development at ReVision Energy, a mission-
    driven, employee-owned solar company with locations in North
    Andover and Wakefield.
        We thank you, Nick, for coming, and I welcome you to make
    an opening statement.

    STATEMENT OF NICK D'ARBELOFF, PRESIDENT, SOLAR ENERGY BUSINESS
           ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND (SEBANE), RANDOLPH, MA

        Mr. d'Arbeloff. Thank you. Ranking Member Markey and
    members of the Senate Committee on Small Business and
    Entrepreneurship, thank you for this opportunity to testify
    today. As you note, I am Nick d'Arbeloff. I serve as President
    of SEBANE, the Solar Energy Business Association of New
    England.
        Before I begin I would like to express my thanks to you,
    Senator Markey, for all that you do and all that you have done
    to support clean energy in Massachusetts and nationwide. Your
    tireless efforts to advance legislation that helps clean energy
    businesses gain a foothold and grow has been critical to the
    success of the Massachusetts clean energy economy.
        Back in 2008, when I served as the founding President of
    the England Clean Energy Council, now the Alliance for Climate
    Transition, I remember well the support you offered our young
    organization. I am deeply grateful for your dedication to the
    clean energy cause.
        SEBANE's mission is to protect and promote the New England
    solar industry through informed policy intervention, coalition
    building, and stakeholder education. Our members include
    residential installers, commercial developers, systems
    integrators, solar component manufacturers, and service
    providers. The vast majority of our members are small
    businesses, and all of them have been significantly impacted by
    the erratic changes in policy over the last few months.
        SEBANE members work diligently each day to deploy clean
    energy resources throughout our region. Domestic energy
    production is vital to achieving energy independence, and much
    of our progress has been greatly accelerated by the Section 48
    and 25D investment tax credits. These clean energy tax benefits
    have a long-standing history of bipartisan support, and their
    extension under the IRA offer the regulatory certainty that our
    member businesses depend on to plan, hire, and invest.
    Repealing these provisions, especially when paired with the
    volatility caused by proposed tariffs, would deal a significant
    blow, financial blow, to project viability and thus to our
    member businesses, jeopardizing thousands of jobs and millions of
    dollars in private investment that power our regional economy.
        Many of our small business member companies, including some
    that have been operating for more than 20 years, have expressed
    serious concerns about the potential rollback of the Inflation
    Reduction Act. Several have indicated that they will be forced
    to significantly reduce their workforce or close their doors
    entirely if these changes move forward. Investors are
    increasingly hesitant to finance projects due to uncertainties
    around tax credits, grants, and tariffs, all of which are now
    being factored into both the cost of capital and asset
    valuations.
        As a result, projects are being halted mid-development.
    Installers are raising their prices significantly, some by more
    than 20 percent. Several members have warned that the
    imposition of tariffs could effectively shut down the battery
    storage sector altogether.
        While SEBANE has worked successfully with the Healey
    administration and previous administrations to advance
    policies, to reduce barriers, and open new markets for solar,
    the combined impact of IRA rollbacks and tariffs would be
    devastating for many of our small business members. Moreover,
    SEBANE itself, operating as a nonprofit funded entirely through
    member dues and educational event revenue, may not withstand
    the financial strain that such cuts would impose across our
    membership base.
        Tariffs are not new to the solar industry. We saw tariffs
    introduced in 2012, when it was believed that the Chinese were
    dumping panels in the U.S. below their cost to manufacture. In
    2018, several new tariffs were added. These were then extended
    in 2022. Multiple administrations have levied solar tariffs,
    kept them in place, and/or extended them. At this moment in
    time, what is most concerning is both the scale and
    unpredictability of the tariffs being implemented.
        Any business, small or large, seeks to understand and
    account for all the variables that may adversely impact its
    operations. If a business knows that a component is going to
    cost more in the years ahead, they can plan for it. What makes
    planning more challenging is a situation where it is difficult,
    if not impossible, to understand or even estimate what that
    component will cost. This is the very situation that solar
    companies find themselves in today.
        The Biden administration placed an emphasis on the domestic
    manufacturing of solar components. The policy was well designed
    and well implemented. As a result, major panel manufacturers
    began building assembly plants here in the United States.
    Hanwha opened plans in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia; Silfab
    opened plants in Burlington, Washington, and Fort Mill, South
    Carolina; JA in Phoenix, Arizona; Jinko in Jacksonville,
    Florida. It is important to note that the policy leaned on
    carrots rather than sticks. If a project used components with
    high domestic content, it was eligible for higher tax credits.
    This incentive drove the market and ultimately drove
    manufacturers to invest in U.S. operations.
        Currently, these manufacturing plants are not building
    solar panels from the ground up. They are still primarily
    assembly plants. They receive subcomponents from around the
    globe, and the finished product is assembled in the U.S. This
    represents a huge step forward in increasing the domestic
    content of panels installed in the U.S., but it is worth nothing
    that a panel with every single subcomponent made in the United States
    is mostly aspirational. It is not realistic given today's global supply
    chains. The previous policy took this into account.
        The tariffs being implemented in 2025 are all sticks and no
    carrots. In fact, many of the financial incentives that the
    industry has started to leverage have been swept off the table.
    It is possible the courts may bring some of these incentive and
    grant monies back. It is also possible they will not. Most
    concerning, it is possible that Congress will reduce tax
    credits in the coming months, something SEBANE members very
    strongly oppose.
        With all subcomponents now facing a range of different
    punitive tariffs, the industry has gone from the possibility of
    bonus incentives, with prices remaining relatively stable, to a
    situation where there are now no bonus incentives and prices
    are starting to fluctuate wildly. This rapidly changing
    landscape creates substantial instability.
        The solar industry, both in Massachusetts and across the
    nation, is quite accustomed to policy-driven ups and downs.
    After all, that is why it is so commonly referred to by
    insiders as the ``the solar coaster.'' We have weathered many
    storms, and it is my expectation that the industry will weather
    this storm, as well. And it is critical that we do so, since
    solar remains one of the most powerful tools available for
    combatting climate change. Solar not only increase our nation's
    energy independence and enhances grid resiliency, it also
    offers a reliable, affordable source of electricity that moves
    us away from the dangers of fossil fuels.
        Senator Markey, as you know well, the battle to prevent
    climate catastrophe is not going particularly well. That said,
    giving up the fight is simply not an option. To the greatest
    extent possible, SEBANE's members, along with solar companies
    across the country, will continue doing what we do, both as
    small businesses seeking to grow and prosper and as a group of
    dedicated professionals helping civilization avoid the very
    worst impacts of climate change.
        Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. d'Arbeloff follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Senator Markey. Thank you, Nick, so much, and thank you for
    career-long dedication to these issues.
        Next we are going to hear from Dr. Aisha Francis, President
    of Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute. In 2021, Dr. Francis
    became the school's first female President. As President, Dr.
    Francis has been an advocate for clean technology, overseeing
    the school's efforts to gear programs to its training students
    in fields such as green building practices, renewable energy,
    and electric vehicle technology.
        President Francis, thank you for hosting us here at
    Franklin Cummings Tech. It looks absolutely beautiful, and I
    know that, as you told me earlier, there are 1,100 students who
    are benefitting from all of your great teaching here at the
    school. Thank you for hosting us, and we are looking forward to
    your opening statement.

    STATEMENT OF AISHA FRANCIS, PH.D., PRESIDENT AND CEO, BENJAMIN
         FRANKLIN CUMMINGS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BOSTON, MA

        Ms. Francis. Thank you so much, Senator Markey. Good
    morning, Chair Ernst, Ranking Member Markey, and distinguished
    members of the Committee, and thank you so much for being in
    our home. We are happy to have you here, and for the
    opportunity to give testimony this morning.
        I want to speak with you about Franking Cummings Tech and
    how we look at bringing economic opportunity to our students
    and graduates in the communities we serve through supporting
    small businesses and the economy by supplying them with the
    talent that is needed for them to grow, particularly for clean
    energy companies and other companies that might not consider
    themselves clean energy companies but rely on talent that is
    educated in the clean energy sector, which we do.
        Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology is
    directly connected to our namesake, Benjamin Franklin, who left
    1,000 pounds to the City of Boston for the purpose of teaching
    people a trade and making sure they could go into
    apprenticeship and becoming contributing members of society.
    And all these decades and centuries later, we are proud to
    continue that legacy and to make a very clear connection
    between that legacy and sustainability.
        From the student application process all the way through
    job placement, Franklin Cummings Tech makes sure that we
    empower learnings to achieve their career goals and attain
    economic advancement through flexible, hands-on technical and
    trade education. We are a two-year college, and we believe in
    making education affordable.
        And who are our students and what are our outcomes? We have
    an 84 percent job placement rate. Our alum report a median
    income of almost $60,000 one year after graduation, which is
    important considering that their annual household income at
    time of graduation is less than $35,000. And 46 percent of our
    students are first-generation college students, almost all of
    whom receive financial assistance.
        We also believe in early college programming and making
    sure high school is even more valuable to students by making it
    possible to receive an entire year of college-level credit while
    students are in high school.
        So throughout history we have also frequently adapted our
    curriculum to meet the needs of industry and match the pace of
    technological advances and changes. This prepares graduates and
    citizens for in-demand jobs, which is important to keep
    economies humming.
        Things change. We know that. Soon after this particular
    building was opened in 1908, there was a line of people waiting
    around the block to take classes that taught them how to repair
    the Model T Ford. Today, we have people lining up to learn
    about hybrid and electric vehicle technology. So sometimes
    things change, and in other ways they stay the same. One thing
    we are very fortunate about is that in 2023, we received
    investment from community-directed spending--thank you, Senator
    Markey--for our Center for Energy Efficiency and the Trades.
    The center was established a few years ago to encapsulate and
    better organize sustainability programming that had already
    been happening across our campus in multiple majors. It is an
    example of how important it is to thoughtfully prepare for what
    is coming and make sure that good-paying, in-demand jobs that
    align with the skills that are available in local marketplaces
    happen at the college level.
        We believe it is important to serve as an intermediary
    between the workplace and the talent pool. It is important role
    that colleges play. It is an important role for society. Our
    Center for Energy Efficiency and the Trades does this by giving
    companies who are looking for clean tech talent one place where
    they can search and partner for the talent they need to grow
    their businesses.
        Affordable, high-quality programs that align with
    sustainability, that are offered through certificate, associate
    degree education is an important aspect of the small business
    ecosystem, and I am going to spend some time explaining how.
        We expertly train untapped talent, mostly people who are
    first-generation college students, immigrants, children of
    immigrants, and others who have chosen to go into clean tech
    careers or careers in sustainability. And the demand for that
    work has been outstripping supply. These areas include
    renewable energy technology, hybrid and electric vehicle
    technology, HVAC and refrigeration including heat pump
    installation and technology, smart building technology,
    electric power generation, and more. Programs offered through
    our center create pathways to home ownership, help graduates
    contribute to the 60-odd Massachusetts towns and cities that
    are represented by the students we serve in this college.
        Good jobs create shared prosperity. The clean energy sector
    creates shared prosperity for students and our families by
    preparing them to become part of the skilled workforce and by
    helping to make sure that the small businesses, and really all
    businesses, thrive by having the talent they need to grow.
        In addition, we relaunched and invested in business
    management degree program that teaches students how to run and
    market their own businesses. Why did we do this? Because more
    than 50 percent of our students share that they have
    aspirations to become small business owners, and we want to
    make sure that they have the skills to fulfill their dreams and
    have the talent that they need to do that.
        Our Center for Energy Efficiency and the Trades received a
    tremendous boost when Senator Markey and Senator Warren
    facilitated $800,000 in community-directed spending. A little
    money goes a long way in helping to propel the flywheel. These
    funds brought critical resources and infrastructure to this
    program so that we were able to respond to exploding demand for
    talent. We hired an additional HVAC faculty member because
    there is a waitlist for that program. That program has actually
    doubled in size in a few years, and now, thanks to investment,
    can accommodate up to 125 students. It is critical that we have
    places that train the talent that companies need in
    technologies such as heat pump installation, other forms of
    smart building technology.
        Community-directed spending and public investment also
    allowed us to expand career navigation services by hiring a
    career navigator, to build connections between students and the
    hundreds of companies that are ardently seeking employees who
    are trained in green tech skills. Through professional career
    navigation we guide our students into secure jobs.
        We deployed infrastructure improvement in the form of
    software platforms that helped us better track our students'
    progress and retention, and allowed those of them who are in
    co-ops and apprenticeships to securely take exams while they
    are off-campus. We want our students to be able to keep their
    commitments to college and keep their work schedules at the
    same time, and now we have better technology modes to allow
    them to do that.
        The most essential elements of having adequate clean energy
    programming are to make sure we have community-based
    partnerships that facilitate better knowledge and awareness
    that the programs are available, and we have been able to
    achieve those aims through partnerships with organizations such
    as Castle Square Tenants Association, just across the street,
    unions such as IBEW, and other community-based organizations
    such as Jewish Vocational Services. All of those organizations
    have members, residents, and program participant who are taking
    classes and participating in our programming. This is very much
    an ecosystem, and we would like very much to see it remain
    strong.
        We have been able to strengthen our curriculum and respond
    to the needs for local talent by making sure we have hands-on,
    project-based learning, making sure we work together to enhance
    student engagement and skill acquisition, while providing small
    businesses and larger companies with the skilled employees they
    need.
        To our minds, energy efficiency and clean technology is not
    an outlier in fields such as construction, building management,
    automotive technology, and manufacturing. Rather, it is an
    established imperative today. It just makes business sense.
        We have excellent small business partners who partner with
    us to develop curriculum and train our students. Some of these
    include construction firms such as Delbrook/JKS of Quincy,
    building automation company, American Energy Management, based
    in Westborough, Cummings Properties of Woburn, and facility man
    agement company, UG2 of Boston, and 128 Plumbing in Wakefield,
    to name a few.
        It is projected that Massachusetts will continue to need to
    grow its local clean energy workforce. And as you heard my
    colleagues share, it is also true that many companies are still
    saying it is too difficult for them to find the skilled
    workforce they need to do the work that they have. At Franklin
    Cummings Tech and our partners we are working to bridge this
    gap and meet this demand, and we take pride in the fact that
    because of the work that we do and the industries that we are
    serving, enrollment has increased by 40 percent in 4 years. We
    know we can do our part to keep this flywheel going and make
    sure we grow the workforce and place our graduates on a pathway
    to working at small businesses for the betterment of economic
    advancement and to support clean energy and sustainability.
        Funding from public sources, like what we received through
    community-directed spending for the clean energy programs we
    offer is direly necessary. We hope and very much want this
    programming and support to continue, both here and in our peer
    institutions, and we will continue to produce significant
    return on investment for individuals, small businesses, and the
    economy.
        Thank you very much.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Francis follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Senator Markey. Thank you so much, Doctor. And last but, I
    think kind of our capstone here, about what is possible, is
    Josh Aviv, who is the Founder and CEO of Somerville-based
    SparkCharge. I met Josh 7 or 8 years ago over at Greentown,
    when Emily was running Greentown, and he was just in a little
    alley in a booth at the time. And he was all concept, and, of
    course, concept is 20 percent. Execution is 80 percent.
        So he has gone from the concept to the execution quite
    brilliantly, which is really where young people are in clean
    tech right now. He founded SparkCharge from his dorm room at
    Syracuse University, moved over to Somerville, raised over $50
    million--$50 million--from investment, including $1 million
    from his appearance on Shark Tank. And he is here today to
    share his experience in running a successful small business in
    the clean energy sector, now not just Somerville but now
    nationwide.
        So welcome, Josh. We are just so proud of everything you
    have done.

        STATEMENT OF JOSHUA AVIV, FOUNDER AND CEO, SPARKCHARGE,
                             SOMERVILLE, MA

        Mr. Aviv. Thank you so much. I deeply appreciate it. Good
    morning to everyone. It is a pleasure to be here. Senator
    Markey, esteemed Committee members, and fellow participants, my
    name is Josh Aviv. I am the CEO of SparkCharge, a
    Massachusetts-based small business committed to building the
    future of electric vehicle charging.
        At SparkCharge we provide mobile, flexible charging to
    electric vehicle and electric vehicle fleet, reducing the
    infrastructure and downtime from 2 to 3 years to as little as 3
    to 7 days, meaning that we allow electrification to grow in an
    advanced and accelerated way, without the need for costly
    infrastructure hurdles.
        Today I am honored to discuss how Federal policies
    profoundly impact not only our ability but the ability of
    countless other small businesses in Massachusetts and across
    the nation to innovate, grow, and lead in the clean energy
    economy.
        First, I would like to start by talking about the impacts
    of tariffs. They significantly affect businesses by increasing
    the cost of essential components by up to 30 percent. We have
    seen this firsthand where battery components, electrical
    components have now skyrocketed in price, meaning that it
    becomes almost impossible for us to go out and offer affordable
    EV charging to certain areas in the EV ecosystem.
        Most of which, when we think about it, batteries and
    electronic equipment remain dependent on global supply chains.
    For small businesses, these increased costs result in reduced
    competitiveness, slower innovation, and financial strain, as we
    scale operations and strive to offer affordable, clean energy
    solutions.
        For EV companies and clean energy companies here in the
    United States, we must remain competitive on a global stage. We
    cannot just simply remain competitive here in the United
    States. There are companies and small businesses around the
    world that are trying to compete with us for the American
    dollar. And when we fail to do that, we often lose market
    share, and that reduces the amount of employees we can hire,
    the growth that we can bring,not only to the commonwealth but
    businesses in areas across the United States.
        When we think about the Inflation Reduction Act, it has
    been transformative for the clean energy sector and companies
    like ours. Its incentives have spurred crucial investment, job
    creation, and technological innovation in clean energy. Should
    these incentives be removed, we would see disruption in ongoing
    projects, decreased future investment, and a loss of critical
    momentum in our journey towards electrification and
    sustainability. The elimination of the IRA-supported incentives
    would increase the cost of capital significantly, diminishing
    our global competitive position.
        We have made so many advancements here in the United States
    with small businesses coming up with innovative technology that
    we want to deploy, that only help our ecosystem and bring more
    jobs, and to take two steps back after we have taken a step
    forward would truly be heartbreaking.
        Moreover, when we think about investment in clean energy
    companies we have amazing programs like MassCEC and Greentown
    Labs. But when we also think about it, there are other funding
    sources such as venture capital that also help companies grow
    and develop and scale. Within the clean energy sector, venture
    capital was instrumental in helping us finance research,
    develop and scale operations, and expand our market research. A
    reduction in available venture capital funding due to changing
    Federal policies and economic uncertainty would severely limit
    growth, stalling promising new technologies, and threatening
    jobs and economic progress here in the state of Massachusetts,
    where venture capital has always been a part of helping
    companies grow and scale to a global presence.
        Manufacturing domestically here in the United States
    remains a critical priority for us at SparkCharge. From day
    one, we said we would never manufacture outside of the United
    States, and we have been able to keep that promise. And other
    small businesses here in the United States also have the
    yearning to manufacture here in the United States. Local
    manufacturing capabilities reduce supply chain vulnerabilities,
    generate quality employment opportunities, and expedite the
    innovation cycle. Federal support through incentives and
    infrastructure investments strengthens our ability to produce
    competitively priced produces domestically, enhancing business
    resilience and national economic security.
        Additionally, the clean vehicle tax credits under current
    Federal policies significantly stimulate demand for electric
    vehicles, directly benefiting SparkCharge and the broader EV
    ecosystem. Increased adoption rates of EVs naturally lead to
    heightened demand for EV charging infrastructure solutions and
    also open up the opportunity for blue-collar jobs to advance
    and grow.
        When EV technology took off and charging stations were
    being rolled out across the United States, there was a huge
    demand for electricians across the United States. This demand
    for electricians were able to provide jobs in countless
    communities around the United States to offer good, high-paying
    jobs, to advance clean technology at a rate that we had never
    before seen here in the United States. If we lose that
    momentum, all of those advanced jobs, all of those jobs for
    electricians, trade workers that went into electrifying this
    country and moving this country forward could be in jeopardy.
        Lastly, tax credits like Research and Development Tax
    Credits, tailored specifically for small businesses, are vital,
    leveling the playing field by enabling innovative startups and
    small companies like ours to invest robustly in research,
    workforce development, and growth. Eliminating these credits
    could disproportionately burden small businesses, increase
    operational costs, and weaken our competitive standing relative
    to larger, established corporations.
        In conclusion, continued Federal support through fair
    tariffs, sustained incentives from the IRA, a robust
    environment for venture capital, strengthened domestic
    manufacturing capabilities, stable clean vehicle tax credits,
    and targeted small business tax credits are indispensable to
    SparkCharge and similar innovative companies. Such supportive
    policies ensure small businesses remain competitive,
    innovative, and integral in driving America's clean energy
    future.
        Thank you for providing me this opportunity to testify
    today. SparkCharge remains steadfast in our commitment to
    collaborate with policymakers to reinforce the clean energy
    economy, promote innovation, and foster sustainable, equitable
    growth for our communities.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Aviv follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Senator Markey. Thank you. As everyone can see, this is
    just such an incredible all-star panel which has gathered here
    to talk about the clean energy future and the threats to it.
        So Josh, President Trump, when he introduced his tariffs on
    180 countries around the world, including an island that only
    had penguins on it, it didn't seem as though it was well
    thought out in terms of what the impact was going to be,
    especially on small businesses in our country. So how many
    employees do you have now?
        Mr. Aviv. We are approaching close to 40 employees across
    the United States.
        Senator Markey. Tell me what you are doing in L.A., in
    California.
        Mr. Aviv. In L.A. we are charging electric vehicles for
    large corporations like Uber, allowing them to continue to
    electrify. We have operations where we service some of the
    largest fleets, everyone from food to agriculture, OEMs, ride
    share, last-mile delivery. We power electric vehicles at scale.
        Senator Markey. At scale. And how many states are you in
    now?
        Mr. Aviv. We currently have operations across all 50
    states, our availability of operations across all 60 states
    here in the United States.
        Senator Markey. And so you would continue to need more
    highly trained people, to provide these services?
        Mr. Aviv. Yes, sir.
        Senator Markey. So again, what is the impact the tariffs
    are having on you right now?
        Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. So the impact that tariffs are having
    on us is we are starting to slow down investment in battery. We
    are starting to slow down investment in, call it, more
    technological advances. And then we are also starting to look
    at are these fleets now going to slow down their investment in
    electric vehicles.
        So we have had to slightly start to pull back on hiring, as
    well. We originally planned to grow to 50, 60-plus people this
    year. We have now started to hear basically from fleets,
    ``Well, look, we have got to understand the impact of the
    tariffs. There is a lot of uncertainty in the market.''
        And so if those fleets scale back and they don't push
    forward to electrification, then that inhibits our ability to
    grow and hire, as well. So we have started to scale back our
    hiring.
        We have also started to see a lot of venture capital money
    really stay on the sidelines, is what I would say. We have
    heard from investors, ``Well, depending on how this goes,
    depending on how the tariffs go, depending on how policy goes,
    that's how we are going to deploy capital to new, innovative
    companies like yours. But we really just want to sit back and
    wait and see how this plays out, because we are just unsure.''
        So there are millions of dollars that are being basically
    sidelined because of the uncertainty, not only around the
    tariffs but really uncertainty around where are we moving
    forward as a country.
        Senator Markey. And Mr. d'Arbeloff, are you seeing the same
    thing in your industry?
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. Well, we absolutely are. I think that most
    solar companies are not eligible for venture capital. The
    intellectual property component of our businesses is such that
    hit is not a great match. As such, cash flow is king to every
    solar company, and when a solar company is forced to use that
    precious cash flow to make long-term procurements to hedge against
    the instability we see ahead, it really constrains the business.
    It really ties their hands behind their back in terms of what can
    and can't be done, and frankly, can put the business at risk.
        Senator Markey. So you are seeing the same thing that Josh
    is seeing.
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. Absolutely.
        Senator Markey. And so those are two good examples. But Dr.
    Reichert is able to see the whole state. That is her job. So
    what is happening here in this sector, Doctor, in terms of the
    impact tariffs are having?
        Ms. Reichert. Well, I will just add to what Josh referenced
    a moment ago. In terms of the young companies that we work with
    across Massachusetts, we had recently tried to understand
    better what impacts they are facing in this short, 100-day
    period where so much has changed over and over again.
        What we learned was that change is causing so much
    uncertainty in all the ways that Josh just mentioned. Should we
    hire? Should we not hire? Should we expand, or should we hold
    back on that expansion? How do we think about inventory, or not
    have inventory?
        The uncertainty is the big thing that comes through the
    survey results, over and over again, and that spills out into
    the economy. When you are talking about clean energy jobs in
    Massachusetts, we have 115,000 jobs, but we also have induced
    and indirect jobs that depend on this industry. So whenever you
    think about, well, the supply chain for clean energy, that
    instability trickles down to less hiring, less contracts, and
    it has a much broader impact than on the industry alone.
        Senator Markey. Yeah. With much fanfare, yesterday the
    President announced that he had reached an agreement with Great
    Britain on a trade deal, but it looks like it is less an
    agreement than a framework to reach an agreement. And that,
    again, is something would only have been the first of all the
    agreements that he has to reach, although he hasn't reached an
    agreement, in reality, on all of the key details.
        So again, all of that just leaves an incredible cloud of
    uncertainty, especially over the smaller companies. The big
    companies, they might be able to ride it out for 6 months, ride
    it out for a year, be able to make some adjustments. But for
    smaller companies it becomes less ``liberation day,'' which
    President Trump used as a way to describe all of his tariffs,
    than an ``extermination day,'' a ``liquidation day'' for so
    many smaller businesses who move week to week, month to month.
    And they have to figure it out on an ongoing basis. They don't
    have that kind of margin for survival over a longer period of
    time.
        So again, coming back to you, Mr. d'Arbeloff, how many
    companies do you represent?
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. We have about 80 members in SEBANE.
        Senator Markey. And how many, do you think, are becoming
    more vulnerable because of these tariffs, or even the threats
    of the removal of the tax break? Mr. d'Arbeloff. I would
    estimate 55 of our member companies are actually solar companies,
    and I do not think there is a
    single one of them that is not negatively impacted by what we
    are seeing. It is a very, very difficult situation. As I noted,
    solar is called the ``solar coaster'' for a reason. There are
    lots of ups and downs, and we figure it out. There are plenty
    of businesses in the solar industry that have failed over the
    years, but there have also been quite a few who have prevailed
    and figured out how to ride these waves. That said, what we are
    seeing today is really unprecedented in terms of
    unpredictability. And so I would say that the threat is very,
    very real and quite frightening.
        Senator Markey. In 2009, when Congressman Henry Waxman and
    I passed our legislation, the Waxman-Markey Bill, that passed
    the House of Representatives and would have reduced greenhouse
    gasses by 80 percent by the year 2050, the total installed
    capacity of solar in the United States, from the beginning of
    time until 2009, was 2,000 megawatts. That is all we had. Last
    year, there was 40,000 new megawatts of solar installed in the
    United States of America.
        So this has just moved dramatically with all of the
    incentives, all of the states that have moved, all of the
    cities that have moved, and the Federal incentives that have
    been placed on the books.
        So it is clearly a vertical story that, of course, the
    natural gas industry is frightened of because it can, in fact,
    substitute for natural gas-generated electricity. So now they
    have gone beyond saying, well, solar is important, but only as
    a small, small portion, to a point where, in 2024, almost all
    of the new installed electrical capacity in the United States
    just came from solar and wind and new battery storage
    technologies, including another company, Form Energy, which
    came out of Greentown, as well, which is showing that you can
    have battery storage at a utility scale. And they are in
    Weirton, West Virginia, now, with more than 400 employees
    there, coming out of Somerville. Like Josh's story, going
    national.
        So all of this is absolutely an indication of how we have
    created a job creation machine, and it is working, but it is a
    threat. It is a threat to the oil industry, the more that all-
    electric vehicles are on the road. We put 70 percent of the
    oil, which we consume in America, goes into gasoline tanks, and
    the more that vehicles don't have gasoline tanks will lower the
    need for new oil. And the same thing is true for the natural
    gas industry in terms of electrical generation. The more that
    solar and wind are deploying, there is less natural gas, less
    number of pipelines which we are going to need.
        So it is becoming, obviously, the storyline, and to the
    extent to which Donald Trump said to the natural gas and oil
    industry, if you raise me $1 billion, just in April of last
    year, I will kill the clean energy industry. So that is where
    we are, and it is not anything other than a policy decision
    that they are making. But it is on behalf of the fossil fuel
    industry. It is on behalf of the legacy industry.
        And then it is coupled with a tariff policy which isn't
    aimed at anything that is rationally explainable because it
    doesn't just affect the clean energy industry, it is affecting
    small businesses across the entirety of the nation. There are
    34 million small businesses in the United States. We have
    734,000 small businesses in Massachusetts. We have 7 million
    people, so there is one small business
    for every 10 people in the state of Massachusetts, and the
    number is true for every single state in the union. It is 330
    million people and 33 million small businesses. So it is a 10-
    to-1 ratio. And 30 percent of all trade in our nation is done
    by small businesses, and they represent 97 percent of all
    business that do trade with other countries.
        So this then becomes something that goes right to the heart
    of small business in Massachusetts or across the country, the
    ability to be able to plan. Again, they are not a big business.
    If a small restaurant chain here in Massachusetts, trading with
    maybe 15 different countries, for different foods or products
    which they need in their business, and they can't be sure what
    they are going to be having to pay in a tariff, or the supplier
    in the other country is absolutely uncertain as to whether or
    not they have a reliable partner in the United States, it casts
    a shadow over it, their small businesses.
        So I would like to just come back to Dr. Francis for a
    second, because you are providing the new workers that Josh or
    Nick's trade association can use.
        Ms. Francis. Correct.
        Senator Markey. And you mentioned earlier that you are
    partnered with IBEW 103, the electricians' union. Could you
    explain that partnership and the enthusiasm for young students,
    you know, minority students, young women, to get into this
    field?
        Ms. Francis. Absolutely. So with the partnership that we
    have with that particular union, members who are well
    established can receive credit for the training center
    education that they have received at the union and apply that
    credit towards an associate degree here in college. So these
    kinds of partnerships, these alternative pathways to receiving
    the credentials that folks are looking for, that are required
    to get into the field and take these jobs, is really an
    important way to really bring untapped talent into the clean
    tech space. And it is important for small businesses, as well,
    because a lot of times the large companies have people beating
    down the doors to work at their companies, and it might not
    necessary be the same came for small businesses. So it is
    important that we are also responding to the talent needs for
    small businesses, as well. But union partnerships are a really
    important part of the ecosystem, and we are happy to be working
    with them.
        Senator Markey. Yeah, and the Federal investments, they
    spur new projects. They create new hubs.
        Ms. Francis. Absolutely.
        Senator Markey. But many of them are union jobs, as well.
    Many of the clean technology tax credits in the Inflation
    Reduction Act are worth more when developers pay workers a
    prevailing wage and use registered apprentices, and that is not
    an accident. It is on purpose. These job standards will result
    in better projects, better policies, better communities. Could
    you expand on that, in terms of apprenticeship programs that
    your students are able to graduate into?
        Ms. Francis. Yes. We have delivered work-based learning,
    which essentially means that we want to make sure that students
    aren't only learning in their classrooms and theoretically, but
    that they have something that they apply that to. So projects
    with compa

    nies, like working with [unclear] are important, and so are co-
    ops, so are apprenticeships.
        So we have been part of pioneering something called the
    apprenticeship degrees, which is a method whereby the
    traditional apprenticeship has been adapted with investment
    from the state, and the State Office of Labor and Workforce
    Development really helps us to navigate a way in which you can
    pair and partner an apprenticeship with a college degree. And
    it is wonderful. It opens up all kinds of avenues for people to
    get paid while they are in college. As I shared, many of our
    students are very resource constrained and people want to bring
    forward the opportunity to work and go to school. And it is
    helpful for companies, too, so that they have the talent pool
    that they need earlier and sooner, so there is less pressure on
    people thinking that they have to do either a job or college.
    You can do both at the same time.
        So we have really taken the apprenticeship from the days of
    Ben Franklin and modernized it. So the apprenticeship degree is
    something that we invest in heavily here.
        Senator Markey. Thank you. And I think you mentioned
    earlier that the student, as they graduate, starts at $60,000 a
    year.
        Ms. Francis. That is the average, yes.
        Senator Markey. That is the average, $60,000 a year.
        Dr. Reichert, could you talk about wages in the clean
    energy sector of Massachusetts, in general, just so people can
    understand how big of an opportunity this is. Kids figure out
    why they should study this subject because their buddies are
    telling them, this could really be a big payoff, if you get
    this background, made by your own personal commitment to
    learning about a new industry. So what is the status for people
    who work in this sector?
        Ms. Reichert. Sure. Well, many clean energy occupations
    currently earn hourly wages that are higher than average hourly
    wages in Massachusetts, and they come with real benefits, long-
    term stability, and the opportunity to build a meaningful
    career.
        So for perspective, the statewide median hourly wage is
    about $29, and in the clean energy sector we are seeing wages
    that far exceed that benchmark. So for example, construction
    workers in clean energy earn a median wage of $64 an hour.
    Electrical engineers earn $60 an hour. Even roles like
    electricians and HVAC technicians, which are core to
    decarbonizing our buildings, earn $39 and $35 per hours,
    respectively, which is both well above the statewide median as
    well as the national median.
        Even workers who are just starting out often earn wages
    above the state average. And I think Dr. Francis can tell you
    stories that oftentimes it is hard to keep these students long
    enough through their training because they get snapped up like
    that. There is real demand for these workers, and there will
    continue to be as we march towards our climate goals.
        Senator Markey. Which is, I think, great news for young
    people. And again, I just want to come back to Dr. Francis a
    little bit, because you talked about a partnership that you
    have with high schools, to get them college credits while they
    are in school. I think, is it Madison High School?
        Ms. Francis. We have that partnership with Madison Park,
    Dearborn STEM Academy, Cambridge Rindge and Latin. We actu

    ally have 16 or 17 high schools, students from 16 or 17 high
    schools taking advantage of our early college program.
        Senator Markey. So what you do is you help to introduce
    young people, as juniors or seniors in high school, into these
    areas.
        Ms. Francis. Yes, because the sooner we get them, the
    better.
        Senator Markey. So they then can kind of see the future
    earlier. It is kind of like parents taking their kids on
    college weekends, to go see which school they might apply to.
        Ms. Francis. Yes.
        Senator Markey. But what you do is you go right to the high
    schools.
        Ms. Francis. Demystifying----
        Senator Markey. And you say, ``Here it is. This is the
    future. And if you start to study a little bit harder, work on
    this, come to our school, go to another school that has these
    particular skill sets, it can be an incredible future.'' Do you
    mention how much people can make when you talk to the juniors
    and seniors in high school?
        Ms. Francis. It is one of the highlights of the talks that
    we do in community, and it is important because people need
    ways to sustain themselves in their communities. This is why we
    are doing this work, and this is how we can incentivize folks
    to make an investment, a post-secondary education investment in
    their education beyond high school. Because the truth is that
    it does still matter to have some training beyond high school,
    for the time that it takes to deal with voltage and
    electricity, and these are complicated fields. And while we can
    push as much of that training as we can into high school, it
    does still require post-secondary training.
        Senator Markey. Right. And again, the workforce is there,
    ready to go.
        Ms. Francis. The workforce is there.
        Senator Markey. It is getting the training, and now we have
    to make sure that the companies are there----
        Ms. Francis. That is right.
        Senator Markey [continuing]. To be able to hire them. We
    have to make sure that the policies reflect that.
        So I want to come back again to Josh and to Nick to talk
    about tax policy. We just talked about tariffs. Now let's talk
    about the tax policies, and which of these tax policies are
    central to ensuring that we see the continued investment in
    growth in the clean energy sector.
        So if you could, Josh, focus upon that area and tell us why
    it is so vital.
        Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. When we think about the Inflation
    Reduction Act, for us this is a vital policy. When we think
    about the growth of EVs and clean tech and clean tech
    investments here in the United States that spur job growth
    across the United States, this is something that has proven to
    not only be successful but helpful to not only just companies
    here in Massachusetts but companies across the United States
    that are looking to further clean tech advancements, further
    grow the clean tech economy.
        And if that is removed, then we are really taking a serious
    step backwards. We are taking a serious step backwards in job
    growth. We are taking a serious step backwards in innovation.
    We are taking a serious step backwards in investment. And we
    are really giv

    ing up that advancement to outside companies, outside countries
    that want to take advantage of that.
        I firmly believe that the U.S. dollar is still the most
    powerful dollar in the world, and U.S. companies are innovating
    and creating innovative solutions to go after and solve
    problems for U.S.-based and worldwide-based consumers. So if we
    lose these tax credit, if we lose these policies, then we are
    really giving up the competitive advantage, and we are losing
    an opportunity that I think we will never see again.
        Senator Markey. Never see again. Mr. d'Arbeloff.
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. Well, I think one thing I would note is
    that the ITC, the Investment Tax Credit, which has for a long
    time been 30 percent of system price--in other words, the
    investor or the owner of the system is allowed to take a 30
    percent tax credit off their tax burden in the year in which
    the system goes live--is absolutely vital to driving the
    industry.
        By the way, it is also worth noting that this perhaps
    wouldn't be necessary or anywhere near as important if fossil
    fuels were to be charged for the externalities that they
    generate. In other words, the damage that they do to the
    environment is not a burden that they bear. They are allowed to
    pollute for free. And were that not the case, were there a
    carbon tax, were Waxman-Markey have come to pass, we would be
    in a very different situation here, wherein something like the
    ITC would not be quite as critical.
        But we are where we are, and the ITC drives down payback
    for solar systems in a way that is just fundamental for the
    investment community, and for homeowners. So for really anyone
    who purchases a solar system or invests in a solar system, it
    is what gives a level of predictability to the investment that
    allows all parties to engage in the transaction and make it
    happen.
        I think that if this were badly threatened, I hate to throw
    around big words, but it would be an existential threat to the
    way that the industry operates. And as you noted, solar and
    clean energy is now exceeding fossil fuels in terms of new
    energy resources per year. I think that if the ITC were to be
    pulled back in any significant fashion, we would----
        Senator Markey. For the audience, ITC is----
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. The Investment Tax Credit.
        Senator Markey. And how is the Investment Tax Credit
    applied to a small business.
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. Great question. So if you are a small
    business and you put solar on the roof of your facility, then
    you are allowed to, using a one-page, actually I think it is a
    two-page, IRS form, you input the price of the solar system
    that you purchased. It then calculates 30 percent of that
    system purchase price, and you are allowed to deduct that from
    your overall tax burden. It is not a tax deduction. You are
    actually taking a credit on the taxes you owe for that year. So
    it is hugely valuable to the way in which solar transactions go
    down, and were it removed it would be hugely problematic.
        The same is true for homeowners, by the way, where a
    homeowner can do the exact same thing. It is a different IRS
    form. It is a different section of the tax code, but same exact
    process.

        Senator Markey. Now the interesting thing, of course, is
    that the oil, gas, and coal industry have had a tax break for
    100 years. So it is not as though, as they try to call this
    socialistic, it is not as though they haven't been the biggest
    beneficiary of socialism, for 100 years, with their tax breaks.
    And then we try to put tax breaks on the books for the
    competitors, and all of a sudden they are outraged that you
    could have such a system in our great country, while not taking
    the tax breaks for the oil industry or the gas industry off the
    books, simultaneously.
        So can you explain that and how troubling that is?
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. Yes. That is true. The tax breaks offered
    to the fossil fuel industry are substantive and dwarf what the
    solar industry might receive, although they are not truly
    visible by the consumer. They are extraction tax credits, which
    allow for them to engage in R&D activities at a substantially
    reduced rate than what it would cost them directly were such
    tax breaks not available to them.
        So it is sort of a behind-the-scenes, behind-closed-doors
    tax credit that no one really understands other than the fossil
    fuel companies themselves.
        Senator Markey. Yeah. And again, let's go back to 2009,
    once again. It is not that long ago, 15 years ago, when Waxman-
    Markey was passing in the House of Representatives. And then,
    according to some estimates, the largest amount of money ever
    spent to defeat any piece of legislation in congressional
    history was spent to kill Waxman-Markey in the Senate. There
    were only 2,000 all-electric vehicles in the United States,
    total. There were only 2,000 megawatts of solar in the United
    States.
        Now, coming back to Josh, in the first quarter of this
    year, January, February, and March of this year, there were
    380,000 new all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids sold.
    Electricity, plug it in. That is like a million and a half
    vehicles that would be sold this year, not 2,000 total in 2009,
    but an explosive increase.
        So that is a big story. But the tax breaks help, right, to
    make sure that all of that can--and in the same way Nick
    explained how the tax breaks work, could you also explain how
    the tax breaks work to incentivize people to install those
    charging stations?
        Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. So there are tax incentives not only
    on installing EV charging stations but also on owning and
    buying an electric vehicle. And when we think about the growth
    of electric vehicle adoption here in the United States in the
    first quarter of this year, a lot of that was driven by growth
    outside of what you would say were mostly popular EV states.
    Back in 2009, those 2,000 vehicles were most likely populated
    in California, right. Now, here, 2025, that growth has expanded
    across the United States, outside of California, and even in
    more rural areas. We are starting to see adoption happening in
    Texas. We are starting to see adoption happening in Ohio, in
    Michigan. And that is due to a lot of the tax credits that are
    available to owning an electric vehicle and install an EV
    charging station.
        So we are seeing this massive growth that, to date, you
    bring up a really good point. We grew EV charging in '21, but I
    think the bigger headline here is that electric vehicle growth
    in America, since its inception, has never taken a decrease. It
    has always

    grown, year over year over year. So a lot of times people will
    come out and say, ``Well, is electric vehicle adoption growing?
    Is it slowing?'' Year over year, we have never sold less
    electric vehicles here in the United States.
        So these tax credits, these benefits, help spur that
    growth, not only on the EV side and the charging station side,
    but think about the person that comes out and installs that
    charging station. So the trickle-down effect is that now, as
    more EVs grow across the United States, they are opening up
    more job growth for people to actually earn a living off this
    clean energy economy.
        Senator Markey. Thank you, Josh. Yeah, and it is not any
    longer just Tesla. I think there are 78 models that can be
    purchased from other companies. So back then, you know, 15
    years ago, it was just a very small number of vehicles that
    were being produced. But now it is Ford, it is General Motors,
    it is companies around the globe that want to build here. Yeah,
    Josh.
        Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. And if you think about it, as well,
    there are more OEMs. General Motors is doing an amazing job
    coming----
        Senator Markey. OEM?
        Mr. Aviv. Original manufacturer.
        Senator Markey. Meaning General Motors and Ford.
        Mr. Aviv. General Motors and Ford. Yes, sir. They are
    coming out with new EVs, and they are getting better and better
    at price points where people can afford them. And if we think
    about how we are going to go out and scale electric vehicle
    adoption, there has got to be affordable models out there. And
    when we think about Tesla, who started producing electric
    vehicles, General Motors, who now, I think, is almost on par,
    if not they are about to pass Tesla, in electric vehicles sold.
    That means that the American consumer now wants electric
    vehicles. It is no longer the cool thing. It is now starting to
    become the economical way to travel.
        So we expect to see more electric vehicle growth. And then
    when we think about the adoption of fleets, as well--so fleets
    now adopting electric vehicles in the thousands--you are going
    to start to see more electric vehicles on the road. And we need
    these policies in place to continue to spur that growth and
    continue to bring along that economic development and job
    growth.
        Senator Markey. Yeah. And that is just so important. There
    is kind of an inexorable increase and consumer satisfaction.
    And we have come a long way when Donald Trump is running a car
    show on the lawn of the White House, to help out his buddy,
    Elon, to sell more vehicles. And Trump is going, ``I might buy
    one of these all-electric vehicles.'' So he might be actually,
    ironically, expanding the market rather than contracting it.
        Yeah, Dr. Reichert.
        Ms. Reichert. Can I just add, in terms of impacts here in
    Massachusetts, we have seen a 22 percent increase in clean
    transportation jobs, which encompasses EVs, since 2023. And the
    state was actually ranked nationally number one for the highest
    rate of growth in electric jobs in 2024. So this is having real
    impacts here at home, and obviously the type of tax credits
    that have been discussed here and those potentially not being
    available is going to cause impacts on real people's lives,
    real jobs, right here in Massachusetts.

        Senator Markey. And again, the way I view this is that
    President Trump is imposing tariffs without any clear plan, and
    putting a cloud over businesses, but especially small
    businesses. He is planning on cutting, by upwards of 40
    percent, the budget for the National Institutes of Health,
    which is what we would call Kendall Square, finding the cure
    for Alzheimer's and diabetes and cancer and all the diseases
    which run through the genetics of people in our country but all
    around the planet. And we are the leader. We are clearly the
    leader in clean energy technology, as well. And meanwhile,
    China is moving very rapidly in biotech. They are investing
    massively in biotech.
        I think, Josh, I just saw last month where there is a
    Chinese company that announced that they now have a battery
    which can be charged in 5 minutes for a vehicle. So do we want
    to pull out of the race with China and just giftwrap biotech
    and clean tech to the Chinese economy, or do we want to
    compete? Do we want to use our young people, you know, the
    Greentown, the engine, all of our university brainpower, to
    compete technologically.
        So what is the risk, Josh, of this retreat?
        Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. And I love that example, because
    everyone got excited when they showed that they could charge a
    car in 5 minutes. And the reality is that the technology that
    enabled that to happen was actually developed here in the
    United States, and it was actually demoed 5 years ago. It was
    nothing new. It was just a Chinese OEM that said, ``Oh look, we
    can do it.''
        But believe it or not, the Combined Charging Standards,
    CCS, actually supports up to 1,000 kilowatts of energy that can
    go into a car, so that is your 5-minute charge. It is
    investment that is needed to roll out that infrastructure, that
    we developed here in the United States, that we were able to
    prove out 5 years ago.
        So, anyway, when we think about the advancement, and when
    we think about other countries catching up to the United
    States, the United States is still in the lead in most
    categories, but other countries are like right behind us. And
    if we give up that lead, if we stop investing in clean tech, if
    we don't roll out the technology that we developed, innovated,
    and created here in the United States, if we don't roll that
    out, if we don't support that innovation, then we will be
    surpassed. And that is just a crime against humanity, to be
    able to develop the technology here, innovate it.
        You know, when we think about a lot of the solar
    technology, as well, a lot of that was developed here in the
    United States, as well. We innovated on that, we patented on
    that, and then we stopped investing in it. And then other
    countries said, ``Look, that is a really great patent. That's
    really great technology. Let's innovate it and move it
    forward.''
        So when you have this technology that has been created
    here, when you have U.S. government money that has been
    invested in that technology to bring it to market, and then we
    pull back, really we are just hurting ourselves. We are hurting
    the businesses, because we are not pushing that technology
    forward. We are not taking advantage. We are not reaping the
    benefit of the technology that we created and that we developed
    here in the United States.
        So when we think about China and we think about the
    advances that they are making, really we have to continue to
    invest in clean

    energy. We have to continue to invest in the clean energy
    economy. We have to continue to invest in innovation so that we
    maintain that lead and not give up our position.
        Senator Markey. I agree with you, 100 percent. When there
    is a rival coming for you, when that rival has a plan, and that
    rival is energized, you have to have a plan. You have to
    respond. And that is why it is so important that the Boston
    Celtics have a plan tonight against the New York Knicks. They
    have got to come back. They have got to have a plan. And we
    need the same thing in biotech. We need the same thing in clean
    tech. That is the future. Not just for Massachusetts. It is the
    future for our country. We are only 5 percent of the world's
    population. We have to decide what we are going to make. We
    have to decide what we are going to produce.
        Yes, Dr. Francis.
        Ms. Francis. Senator, I just wanted to follow up on that by
    putting a finer point on what these jobs are. So for instance,
    in electric vehicle technology it does require different
    approaches to repair. So we have created a program that
    responds to that need, because there is a shortage of
    technicians who actually know how to deal with the electricity
    and the voltage.
        So these are the kinds of things that we are talking about.
    So when you cut off the investment, you are also cutting off
    jobs for people, not only in Massachusetts but in local
    communities, because local repair people do that work. This is
    not work that is outsourced. This is work that is happening on
    the ground. So there is an entire infrastructure of roles that
    we are going to snuff out, and I just think people should know
    about that.
        Senator Markey. Yeah. And my father graduated from the
    vocational program at Lawrence High School, and he became,
    ultimately, vice president of an electrical union in South
    Boston, UE. He was the vice president. And one of the earliest
    things I can hear from my father, as the oldest in the family,
    was ``Eddie, whatever you do, don't put your finger in the
    socket.'' So I was learning about electricity very young, from
    my father, who focused on it. And he could do anything with
    electricity.
        And electricity is making a big comeback. We might have to
    double the capacity over the next generation. So there is a
    whole new generation, like my father, as they were starting
    this whole revolution, that once again will get reintroduced.
    But the technology is different. It requires even more
    sophistication. It is computer related, in many ways. You have
    to have wireless devices with you while you are trying to
    figure out how to do the installation, and it requires
    training.
        And that is where young people want to go. They are smart.
    They want to move to the future. And between the tariffs and
    the potential removal of tax breaks, the future has a cloud
    over it in the areas where young people want to move to most
    ambitiously. So it is a pretty grave threat right now, which is
    why I am fighting so hard down in Washington.
        Nick, did you want to add something right there, that I see
    you moving in on?
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. No, I think we have passed the point. But I
    do think that we are on the verge of really solving some of the
    basic

    problems that were associated with renewable technology. Early
    on, stones could be thrown at renewable by claiming it was
    intermittent, and that it couldn't power our industry and
    civilization because if the wind wasn't blowing and the sun
    wasn't shining.
        But energy storage, as witnessed by Josh's company and many
    others, has grown and evolved by leaps and bounds, and we now
    can provide renewable baseload power to industry, to homes, and
    so forth. Baseload power is defined as constant, something that
    can be relied upon and depended upon, day in and day out. And
    the fact that we have now arrived at this incredibly critical
    milestone, only to head down what I can only say is a rabbit
    hole, is very, very unfortunate.
        Senator Markey. And again, that is why I am going to be
    working very hard to explain to my colleagues in Washington.
    For example, it is West Virginia where Form Energy is building
    their manufacturing capacity. That is the future. Those are
    workers who can move into a brand-new industry, not just a job
    but a career, you know, manufacturing.
        And by the way, Form Energy, also a Greentown firm, you
    keep hearing about lithium-ion and do we have enough lithium-
    ion here in the United States. Well, what they did,
    brilliantly, over at Form Energy, was they figured out how to
    use iron and oxygen, in other words, two of the most common
    elements, to be able to produce this incredible, utility-scale
    battery technology, which is being manufactured in West
    Virginia.
        So 80 percent of all of the jobs created in the climate
    bill are in red states. They are the ones manufacturing the
    batteries. They are the ones manufacturing the solar panels.
    They are the ones manufacturing these new vehicles,
    disproportionately.
        And you have installation jobs, though, and there are way
    more jobs in installation than there are in even the
    manufacture. And that is where we are. We innovate, we come up
    with those innovation jobs. That is Greentown. And there are a
    lot of jobs that we get from the innovation. There are many
    more jobs that are being created out of the bill down in the
    red states and the purple states. And, on top of that, once
    they manufacture it we can then hire electricians. We can hire
    roofers to go up and do the work. And we need to train a whole
    new generation of young people to go into doing that. That is
    the whole system. It is inventors and investors. It is
    professors and producers. We provide part of it; other states
    provide part of it. And when you put it all together it is
    called future economy.
        And again, I am going to keep coming back to the same thing
    is true for biotech. It is absolutely essential to job creation
    in the future, but also solving the problems of the diseases
    that have afflicted humankind forever, or climate change, which
    is a cumulative problem over generations, that also needs a
    technological solution. But it is going to require jobs to be
    created in order to solve those problems.
        So what I would like to do with this incredible panel--has
    this been a great panel? Can we give them applause for the
    incredible job that they have done?
        [Applause.]

        Senator Markey. So what I would like to do is give each one
    of you 1 minute to tell everyone who is watching across the
    country what it is you want them to remember from this hearing.
    What is most important for them to keep in their minds over
    these next several months, as we are talking about tariffs,
    talking about changes in tax policy, and what the implications
    can be.
        And maybe we will go in reverse order of the opening
    statement, and if you wouldn't mind, Josh, we will begin with
    you.
        Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. So just want to say thank you to
    everyone for coming out, and thank you, Mr. Markey, for
    allowing us to present here today.
        I will keep mine short and sweet. Investment in clean tech,
    investment in the clean energy economy is an investment in job
    growth. It is an investment in the economy. It is an investment
    in economic growth, not only here in Massachusetts but across
    the United States. And so I think as we continue the
    conversation around electric vehicles, as we continue the
    conversation around clean tech, as we continue the conversation
    around biotech, when we think about those industries and we
    think about those particular topics, at the end of the day an
    investment in those areas is an investment in jobs. It is an
    investment in growing our economy. And if you like jobs, if you
    want to grow jobs here in the commonwealth, we should continue
    to invest in those areas.
        At SparkCharge we are proud that we are here. We are based
    in Somerville, Massachusetts. We plan on staying in Somerville,
    Massachusetts. We plan on continuing to grow here in the state
    of Massachusetts, and continue to help with innovative ways to
    grow the electric vehicle industry at a faster pace across the
    United States.
        Thank you so much for listening to what we have to say, and
    we are excited to work with everybody as we continue to push
    this industry forward.
        Senator Markey. Thank you. Dr. Francis.
        Ms. Francis. Yes. Thank you again for the opportunity to
    share why post-secondary education matters. I would hope that
    the people who are listening can understand that investment in
    training and education beyond high school remains important and
    that policy impacts people. I hope that people resist the urge
    to think that none of this matters and to be overwhelmed by the
    pace of change, and to really think about the fact that a
    mission like ours, which is to deliver transformative technical
    and trade education that leads to economic advancement requires
    a thriving economy in order to work, and that small businesses
    are where 80 percent of our students find their jobs.
        So anything that threatens small business, any policies
    that threaten education sector really threatens people. So that
    would be my last message. Thank you for the opportunity.
        Senator Markey. And thank you, Doctor, and again, my
    father, he could do things easily that I couldn't even imagine
    to do, as a boy or even today. It is a skill set.
        Ms. Francis. It is.
        Senator Markey. It is a gift. People have this
    technological ability go to in and see a problem, and to solve
    it, and that is what

    you are doing every day here, giving young people the ability
    to go and do that, and then get a high-paid job.
        Ms. Francis. Absolutely.
        Senator Markey. So we thank you for that. Mr. d'Arbeloff.
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. Thank you, Senator. I am going to be
    ambitious and a little wonky with my final minutes.
        Unfortunately, we are in an age of extreme whether due to
    climate change, and I think the solar small businesses that are
    members of our organization are a critical component of helping
    us literally weather the storms ahead. I think that the notion
    of having solar on your house or small business, in conjunction
    with storage, allows you to obtain a level of resiliency which
    is really, really important.
        I would also say that lots of folks have accused the solar
    industry of being subsidized, to the disadvantage of other rate
    payers who don't go solar. And I want to point out that solar
    plays a critical role in actually lowering rates for all rate
    payers. The way it works--and this is wonky--at what is called
    ISO New England, that manages our grid, if a number of
    different generators all bid in their source of energy, the
    last generator in, the highest rate sets the price for all
    generators. If you can knock out the peaker plants, if you can
    knock out----
        Senator Markey. If you can knock out----
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. If we are all generators, and Senator, by
    some strange turn of fate you are a natural gas peaker plant,
    charging----
        Senator Markey. What do you mean by peaker? What do you
    mean by peaker?
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. Peaker plant says when the grid is peaking,
    when the grid is at or near capacity----
        Senator Markey. You mean, when it is a 100-degree day out.
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. Exactly.
        Senator Markey. Okay, yeah.
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. And the grid needs more generators, there
    are power plants that are designed to run for 20 hours a year
    and get paid very handsomely for it. If you can say, hey,
    peaker plant----
        Senator Markey. Meaning that it is only going to be 100
    degrees for 20 days a year, but you have got to pay the highest
    single price just to keep it going, and it happens all year
    long. So what happens under our new regime?
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. If there is a large installed base of
    solar, and that installed base of solar grows and grows and
    grows, and what it means is Senator Markey's natural gas peaker
    plant is no longer necessary, we can bid him goodbye. His 25
    cent per kilowatt energy is no longer necessary----
        Senator Markey. And how many----
        Mr. d'Arbeloff [continuing]. In at 16 cents.
        Senator Markey. 16 cents.
        Mr. d'Arbeloff. And we just saved 9 cents per kilowatt hour
    for every rate payer in the region. And that is just a small
    example and the type of wonky stuff that never gets publicized,
    and it is critical to how clean energy is really going to be a
    wonderful influence and a critical cog in how we manage our
    civilization, moving forward.

        Senator Markey. Thank you. Dr. Reichert.
        Ms. Reichert. Well, thank you for inviting me and my
    colleagues here to testify. I think this has been a very
    important conversation, and thank you for giving me the chance
    to take it home.
        I want to say to the audience that this is really about
    communities. This is about people. This is about jobs and
    livelihoods. It is about the uncertainty that exists now at the
    Federal policy level, creating uncertainty in the lives of
    students who are going to need a job and not sure if their
    training matches up with what jobs are going to be available.
    It is uncertainty in the future of small businesses who might
    have made investments that now are in question. And it is
    uncertainty in everyone who has bills to pay, if you are a
    clean energy worker and you don't know that your job is going
    to continue. These are real impacts on real people's lives.
        You know, you talked about installation jobs in other parts
    of the country, and that is absolutely true. But there are
    clean energy installation, maintenance, and construction jobs.
    That is actually one of the top three sets of jobs that exists
    in the Massachusetts clean energy sector, as well.
        Senator Markey. Can you say that again?
        Ms. Reichert. One of the top three parts of the clean
    energy jobs in Massachusetts are installation, maintenance, and
    construction jobs.
        So these are local jobs. These are jobs that are paying the
    bills for real people who are living here, working here every
    day, and depending on the future of clean energy in
    Massachusetts and the entire country.
        Senator Markey. Thank you. So I think Dr. Reichert has put
    her finger on it. You can't outsource a job where someone has
    to get up on the roof and do that work. You can't outsource a
    job where someone has to figure out how to install the charging
    station in somebody's garage or somebody's business. That has
    to happen right here, with American workers, trained here at
    Franklin Cummings. Yes, we have to do that right here. The
    Chinese can't do it for us. It requires American workers to do
    it.
        But we need the technologies to be installed. We need the
    workers to have a place to go to be hired, and we have people
    here who want to hire them. They are ready to go. They are
    ready to employ a whole new generation of workers.
        And so I think what we heard today was that President
    Trump's tariff policies are a real threat to especially the
    small businesses in the clean energy sector, but to the clean
    energy sector, in general. No question about it.
        A repeal of tax incentives would also be an incredible
    threat to this burgeoning industry, creating jobs on a massive
    basis. The numbers, since 2022, when the IRA, the largest
    climate bill in history, passed, is that it has already created
    400,000 new jobs in America and $400 billion worth of private
    sector investment. That is just in 2 1/2 years. So it is
    working.
        But it is even more than that, even more than the tariffs.
    It is even more than the attempt to repeal the tax breaks,
    which again, is counterintuitive if you are in the red states,
    where 80 percent of the new jobs have been created. That really
    doesn't make any economic sense that you have a future, and as
    Dr. Reichert said at

    the beginning, for an industry that is going to continue. But
    we will just get a smaller percentage of it as each year goes
    by.
        But it is more than that. It is also a direct attack upon
    that sector which is already working, which is the offshore
    wind industry. So right off our coastline we have the same
    winds that moved the Pilgrims towards our shores, that were
    used by the whaling industry to create the first energy
    industry, whale oil. But now that same wind can produce
    electricity that we plug into, Barnstable, or Fall River, or
    Salem, and fuel our homes and fuel our industries right now.
        Donald Trump has announced that he is going to try to end
    the entire offshore wind industry. And why would he do
    something like that when Vineyard Wind is within months of
    opening up 800 megawatts of electricity to come right into the
    Massachusetts economy, essentially replacing the Pilgrim
    Nuclear Power Plant. And it is pretty clear because otherwise
    we would have to have more natural gas, natural gas that would
    be coming in from fossil fuel states, when we would be able to
    use our own indigenous power.
        So Donald Trump not only is now talking about the tariffs
    and the removal of the tax breaks, but also a direct attack
    through his Department of Interior and Energy on an industry
    which was going to produce 3,000, or 4,000, or 5,000, or 6,000
    new megawatts of electricity which would just come in from
    offshore.
        And it is all for the benefit of the incumbent industries,
    because they are afraid of the new industries that can replace
    them. And especially for places like New England, where God
    didn't bless us with any oil or gas or coal. But now we can use
    our own indigenous energy resources, and that is a threat to
    the natural gas industry, in the same way that Josh's
    technology is a threat to the oil industry, and putting
    gasoline into the tanks of the vehicles which we drive forever.
    We wouldn't have to do that.
        So this is an important defining moment in our country's
    history, whether it be biotech or clean tech. We have a clear
    vision for where the next generation of young people, young
    people who are leading us, want to go, want to take us, the
    industries where they want to work.
        I can't thank our witnesses enough. And I am also going to
    be releasing today a report that I have asked my great staff to
    put together, and the title of the report is, ``Pulling the
    Plug: How Trump's Attacks on Clean Energy Could Turn Out the
    Lights for Small Business.'' And I am going to be releasing
    this report today, as the Ranking Member of the Small Business
    Committee, and it will go on here in some detail about what the
    impacts will be of the Trump policies.
        So again, with that I can't thank our incredible panel
    enough for your expert testimony today, and we thank anyone who
    is here for their participation.
        The record will be open for 2 weeks for anyone who would
    like to submit any comments or questions to the panel. We thank
    all of you for participating, and with that this hearing is
    adjourned. Thank you all so much.
        [Whereupon, at 11:49 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]

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