S.Hrg.119-94

1[Senate Hearing 119-94]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                                                         S. Hrg. 119-9456                    SMALL BUSINESSES POWERING THE CLEAN7                            ENERGY ECONOMY89=======================================================================1011                             FIELD HEARING1213                               BEFORE THE1415                      COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS16                          AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP1718                                 OF THE1920                          UNITED STATES SENATE2122                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2324                             FIRST SESSION2526                               __________2728                              MAY 9, 20252930                               __________3132      Printed for the use of the Committee on Small Business and33                            Entrepreneurship3435[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]3637        Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov3839                                __________4041                   U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE4260-612                     WASHINGTON : 20254344-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4546            COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP47                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS4849                              ----------5051                        JONI ERNST, Iowa, Chair52            EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts, Ranking Member53JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho                MARIA CANTWELL, Washington54RAND PAUL, Kentucky                  JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire55TIM SCOTT, South Carolina            CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey56TODD YOUNG, Indiana                  CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware57JOSH HAWLEY, Missouri                MAZIE K. HIRONO, Hawaii58TED BUDD, North Carolina             JACKY ROSEN, Nevada59JOHN R. CURTIS, Utah                 JOHN W. HICKENLOOPER, Colorado60JAMES C. JUSTICE, West Virginia      ADAM B. SCHIFF, California61JOHN HUSTED, Ohio62                Meredith West, Republican Staff Director63                 Sean Moore, Democratic Staff Director6465                            C O N T E N T S6667                              ----------6869                              MAY 9, 202570                           OPENING STATEMENT7172                                                                   Page73Edward J. Markey, Senator from Massachusetts, Ranking Member.....     17475                               WITNESSES7677Dr. Emily Reichert, CEO, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center,78  Boston, MA.....................................................     379    Prepared Statement...........................................     680Mr. Nick d'Arbeloff, President, Solar Energy Business Association81  of New England, Randolph, MA...................................    1482    Prepared Statement...........................................    1783Dr. Aisha Francis, President and CEO, Benjamin Franklin Cummings84  Institute of Technology, Boston, MA............................    2085    Prepared Statement...........................................    2486Mr. Joshua Aviv, CEO, SparkCharge, Somerville, MA................    2787    Prepared Statement...........................................    308889              ADDITIONAL LETTERS/STATEMENTS FOR THE RECORD9091Joni K. Ernst, Senator from Iowa, Committee Chair................    489293                            FIELD HEARING:94           SMALL BUSINESSES POWERING THE CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY9596                              ----------9798                          FRIDAY, MAY 9, 202599100                               U.S. Senate,101                        Committee on Small Business102                                      and Entrepreneurship,103                                                    Washington, DC.104    The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:00 a.m., at105Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, 41 Berkeley106Street, Boston, MA, Hon. Edward J. Markey, Ranking Member of107the Committee, presiding.108    Present: Senator Markey.109110                  STATEMENT OF SENATOR MARKEY111112    Senator Markey. Good morning, everyone. The Senate113Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship will come to114order.115    As we come to the end of the National Small Business Week,116we are here today to talk about an issue that is very important117to all of us here in Massachusetts--the clean energy economy.118This is one of the fastest growing industries in the United119States. Nearly 3.5 million Americans work in clean energy, and120the sector is adding jobs three times faster than the overall121U.S. workforce, and Massachusetts is leading the way.122    Here in the commonwealth, the clean energy economy supports123more than 200,000 jobs, an 80 percent increase since 2010. We124also lead the nation in climate tech start-ups per capita, with12549 start-ups per 1 million residents. That is what makes us not126just the Bay State but the Brain State. We are moving to the127future, technologically.128    Today we are at Franklin Cummings Tech, a school on the129front lines of making economic and climate justice a reality.130In 2013, Senator Warren and I, in the Senate, working with131Congresswoman Pressley in the House, secured $800,000 in132funding to help launch the school's Center for Energy133Efficiency and the Trades. I am proud to have helped get such134an innovative program off of the ground.135    Small businesses play an important role in the clean energy136economy, but uncertainty and chaos could affect our path to a137just, livable future for everyone. Our clean energy transition138isn't just about mitigating the devastating impacts of the139climate crisis. It is about building an economy with140accessible, good-paying jobs, and it is about centering141justice.142143    A major part of building this future is supporting the144small businesses in the industry. We all know small businesses145are the backbone of the American economy, and that is no146different here. They account for a significant portion of clean147energy jobs in the United States. In fact, 75 percent of energy148efficiency businesses are small businesses, employing 20 or149fewer workers.150    The Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate bill in151history, is a down payment for a livable future, and is helping152small businesses in the clean energy economy thrive. The IRA153supports jobs and small businesses with tax credits to improve154energy efficiency in homes, in businesses, produce clean155energy, and install solar and wind and battery technology. And156these credits are intentionally designed to favor projects to157pay prevailing wages and invest in apprenticeship programs.158    In other words, IRA investments mean that a local159restaurant can lower its electricity bill by installing rooftop160solar, or the corner store, down the street, can buy electric161delivery vehicles and install charging stations, allowing162shoppers to charge up while they grab groceries for the week.163    In addition, the $20 billion in funding from the Greenhouse164Gas Reduction Fund, the single largest investment in the165Inflation Reduction Act, and based on my National Climate Bank166legislation, is projected to generate a combined $250 billion167in public and private sector funding over the first 10 years of168the Climate Bank, much of which would support jobs and small169businesses. That is not me touting my Climate Bank. That is170McKinsey doing an analysis of how much private sector funding171would be unleashed by the Climate Bank in the first 10 years.172    But the Trump administration has frozen the money, creating173uncertainty, and putting small businesses depending on all of174this funding at risk. We must continue investing in American175jobs and small businesses by preserving the IRA's tax credits.176This means investing in clean and efficient energy177technologies, safeguard Small Business Administration lending178options, and supporting small business importers and exporters.179    Likewise, the Small Business Administration, or SBA, can180support low-cost financing of energy-efficient and renewable181technologies. Low-cost energy loans from the SBA have been used182by hotels on Cape Cod to install solar panels to lower costs,183to help hotels survive the winter season.184    The SBA also provides grants to innovative climate tech185companies through the Small Business Innovation Research and186Small Business Technology Transfer programs, and has helped187clean energy ensure that those small businesses expand to188foreign markets, with grants through the State Trade Expansion189Program, also known as STEP.190    President Trump's budget, released last week, proposed191cutting STEP entirely, cutting the State Trade Expansion192Program. Even as he is talking about tariffs, he wants to193eliminate the program which would provide that extra help for194state trade expansion. He also wants to eliminate many other195key Federal programs that small businesses rely upon.196    The Trump administration is denying small businesses the197support and the capital they need to keep pushing American198innovation forward. The clean energy economy is the key to a healthy199climate future for everyone, and supporting small businesses200should never be a partisan issue.201    In Massachusetts, we know the importance of investing in202entrepreneurs. We have built an ecosystem of innovation, where203start-ups and small businesses are creating the technologies204that are transforming our world. We need clean energy205entrepreneurs to develop, install, and maintain the technology206and infrastructure that are the foundation of our clean energy207economy. The future of our environment and economy depends upon208these continued investments in small businesses, and I look209forward to discussing them in today's field hearing.210    So we have an incredible panel of experts who are joining211us this morning, and I am going to give each one of them their212proper introduction, and one by one you are going to hear some213of the smartest people in America explain why this is a key214part of our economy, both here and across the nation.215    First up is Dr. Emily Reichert, the Chief Executive Officer216of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. For more than a217decade, Emily has been an essential part of what makes218Massachusetts a climate and clean energy leader. With technical219and business expertise, Emily led Greentown Labs to become the220largest climate tech start-up incubator in North America,221attracting billions in investments and creating thousands of222jobs. As CEO of MassCEC, Emily is working to develop the clean223energy workforce and drive equitable growth across224Massachusetts.225    So Dr. Reichert, thank you so much for being with us.226Whenever you feel ready, please begin.227228 STATEMENT OF EMILY REICHERT, Ph.D., CEO, MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN229                   ENERGY CENTER, BOSTON, MA230231    Ms. Reichert. Good morning, Senator Markey. Thank you for232gathering us here today to discuss the clean energy economy in233Massachusetts, and specifically the economic impact of clean234energy small businesses and clean energy workers.235    I want to first thank Franklin Cummings Tech and President236Aisha Francis for hosting us. At MassCEC we are fortunate to237have Dr. Francis as a valued member of our board of directors.238    My name is Emily Reichert and I have the honor of serving239as the CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, also known240as MassCEC. MassCEC is a quasi-state economic development241agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy242and climate tech sector across Massachusetts. We do this to243spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits,244and secure long-term economic growth for our residents.245    I appreciate the opportunity to share findings that we have246gathered as part of MassCEC's annual Clean Energy Industry247Survey. MassCEC is required by law to submit an annual report248detailing the state's clean energy industry to the249Massachusetts legislature. While we are still finalizing the250report, I would like to share a few highlights with you today.251The headline is: the Massachusetts clean energy economy is252strong.253    The clean energy industry has become a major part of the254Massachusetts economy and has seen continued growth in jobs,255businesses, and economic impact. There are over 7,500 clean energy256businesses in Massachusetts, and 58 percent of clean energy257businesses in Massachusetts are small businesses, with 10 or258fewer workers.259    The Massachusetts clean energy industry has doubled since2602010, adding nearly 60,000 jobs. In total, Massachusetts is261home to over 115,000 clean energy workers. That is 115,000262Massachusetts residents who rely on work in clean energy263businesses, many of them small businesses, to support264themselves and their families.265    But the impact of the industry is much greater than 115,000266jobs alone, because the Massachusetts clean energy industry267supports another 43,500 indirect jobs, and nearly 70,000268induced jobs. Indirect jobs are those outside the clean energy269sector that provide critical supply chain goods and services270for the sector, and induced jobs are those that result from271increased spending in the economy, thanks to the clean energy272industry.273    In total, the clean energy industry powers 233,427 direct,274indirect, and induced jobs, according to our recent report.275    As well, the industry has been responsible for generating a276significant amount of tax dollars, including $5.9 in Federal277taxes, and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes invested back278in the economy here. In 2023, the clean energy sector279contributed $15.9 billion, or about 2 percent, to the280commonwealth's gross state product.281    However, the numbers in this year's annual industry report282only reflect clean energy jobs. Massachusetts has a booming283climate tech sector, as well. We are number one in the U.S. for284climate tech startups per capita, with many young companies285emerging from our local universities and growing into286successful climate tech manufacturing businesses. Recent287examples who are also grantees of MassCEC's programs include288Aeroshield Materials, in Waltham, Massachusetts, which is289developing advanced insulation materials to improve energy290efficiency in buildings; AM Batteries, in Billerica,291Massachusetts, which is pioneering cleaner, more efficient ways292to make batteries for electric vehicles and other energy293storage applications; and Clean Crop Technologies in Holyoke,294Massachusetts, which is using innovative technology to keep295food fresher or longer and cut waste across the food supply296chain.297    Another exciting highlight of the report is that the298Massachusetts clean energy industry is a statewide industry.299Seventy-four percent of clean energy businesses are outside of300the greater Boston area. These workers and small businesses are301improving the quality of life for countless residents across302Massachusetts. They are making lives more affordable and more303comfortable. They are helping drivers switch to cleaner304electric vehicles. They are helping homeowners and businesses305make their homes and commercial buildings healthier and more306efficient. They are reducing pollution and building a future307with cleaner air and water. And they are helping us accelerate308the transition to clean energy sources that are more reliable309and more secure.310    The continued growth of the clean energy industry is311already vital to the well-being of many Massachusetts families.312But we know we have more work to do to grow jobs and ensure313everyone can take part in the benefits of clean energy. Women314and minority workers continue to be underrepresented in the315industry, and thatis why equitable workforce development is one316of our top priorities at MassCEC.317    Massachusetts needs roughly 28,000 additional workers to318meet our 2030 climate goals, but 37 percent of clean energy319employers reported that they found it very difficult to hire320qualified workers. That is why yesterday I traveled to Essex321North Shore Technical and Agricultural High School in Danvers,322Massachusetts, to announce $7.3 million in workforce323development grants to 25 incredible organizations across the324commonwealth, including community colleges, unions, and325technical high schools. These grants will support local326organizations working to build training pipelines, raise327awareness, and expand access to clean energy jobs.328    On a global scale, the clean energy transition is329unstoppable. But the competition is fierce and other countries330are moving forward.331    The progress we have made over the past 15 years here in332Massachusetts is incredible, and we have much to be proud of.333This work wouldn't be possible without people coming together334across higher education, government, labor, industry, and the335nonprofit sector.336    Massachusetts is a climate leader and a hub for innovation,337and will continue to grow the clean energy industry and338accelerate climate tech solutions. But without reliable Federal339investments, our entrepreneurs and small businesses will340suffer, and when small businesses suffer, so do workers,341consumers, and entire communities. This is the time when we342should strengthen our support for clean energy small businesses343and workers, as well as the researchers and innovators who344drive ground-breaking climate solutions.345    I appreciate the opportunity to speak about positive346economic impact of the clean energy small businesses and the347workers who power this growing industry in Massachusetts.348Senator Markey, thank you again for inviting MassCEC to testify349today. I look forward to your questions.350    [The prepared statement of Ms. Reichert follows:]351352[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]353354    Senator Markey. Thank you so much, Doctor. And you are355right. This is a global revolution. Last year, for the first356time in history, there was more funding invested into solar357than in oil, for the first time in history. So this is no358longer some small piece of the whole clean energy or energy359economy, in general. It is just growing exponentially. So thank360you so much, Doctor.361    Next we have Nick d'Arbeloff, President of the Board for362the Solar Energy Business Association of New England, or363SEBANE. SEBANE is a collection of solar energy companies in New364England, including residential and commercial developers,365installers, and consultants, and manufacturers. Nick is also366Head of Market Development at ReVision Energy, a mission-367driven, employee-owned solar company with locations in North368Andover and Wakefield.369    We thank you, Nick, for coming, and I welcome you to make370an opening statement.371372STATEMENT OF NICK D'ARBELOFF, PRESIDENT, SOLAR ENERGY BUSINESS373       ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND (SEBANE), RANDOLPH, MA374375    Mr. d'Arbeloff. Thank you. Ranking Member Markey and376members of the Senate Committee on Small Business and377Entrepreneurship, thank you for this opportunity to testify378today. As you note, I am Nick d'Arbeloff. I serve as President379of SEBANE, the Solar Energy Business Association of New380England.381    Before I begin I would like to express my thanks to you,382Senator Markey, for all that you do and all that you have done383to support clean energy in Massachusetts and nationwide. Your384tireless efforts to advance legislation that helps clean energy385businesses gain a foothold and grow has been critical to the386success of the Massachusetts clean energy economy.387    Back in 2008, when I served as the founding President of388the England Clean Energy Council, now the Alliance for Climate389Transition, I remember well the support you offered our young390organization. I am deeply grateful for your dedication to the391clean energy cause.392    SEBANE's mission is to protect and promote the New England393solar industry through informed policy intervention, coalition394building, and stakeholder education. Our members include395residential installers, commercial developers, systems396integrators, solar component manufacturers, and service397providers. The vast majority of our members are small398businesses, and all of them have been significantly impacted by399the erratic changes in policy over the last few months.400    SEBANE members work diligently each day to deploy clean401energy resources throughout our region. Domestic energy402production is vital to achieving energy independence, and much403of our progress has been greatly accelerated by the Section 48404and 25D investment tax credits. These clean energy tax benefits405have a long-standing history of bipartisan support, and their406extension under the IRA offer the regulatory certainty that our407member businesses depend on to plan, hire, and invest.408Repealing these provisions, especially when paired with the409volatility caused by proposed tariffs, would deal a significant410blow, financial blow, to project viability and thus to our411member businesses, jeopardizing thousands of jobs and millions of412dollars in private investment that power our regional economy.413    Many of our small business member companies, including some414that have been operating for more than 20 years, have expressed415serious concerns about the potential rollback of the Inflation416Reduction Act. Several have indicated that they will be forced417to significantly reduce their workforce or close their doors418entirely if these changes move forward. Investors are419increasingly hesitant to finance projects due to uncertainties420around tax credits, grants, and tariffs, all of which are now421being factored into both the cost of capital and asset422valuations.423    As a result, projects are being halted mid-development.424Installers are raising their prices significantly, some by more425than 20 percent. Several members have warned that the426imposition of tariffs could effectively shut down the battery427storage sector altogether.428    While SEBANE has worked successfully with the Healey429administration and previous administrations to advance430policies, to reduce barriers, and open new markets for solar,431the combined impact of IRA rollbacks and tariffs would be432devastating for many of our small business members. Moreover,433SEBANE itself, operating as a nonprofit funded entirely through434member dues and educational event revenue, may not withstand435the financial strain that such cuts would impose across our436membership base.437    Tariffs are not new to the solar industry. We saw tariffs438introduced in 2012, when it was believed that the Chinese were439dumping panels in the U.S. below their cost to manufacture. In4402018, several new tariffs were added. These were then extended441in 2022. Multiple administrations have levied solar tariffs,442kept them in place, and/or extended them. At this moment in443time, what is most concerning is both the scale and444unpredictability of the tariffs being implemented.445    Any business, small or large, seeks to understand and446account for all the variables that may adversely impact its447operations. If a business knows that a component is going to448cost more in the years ahead, they can plan for it. What makes449planning more challenging is a situation where it is difficult,450if not impossible, to understand or even estimate what that451component will cost. This is the very situation that solar452companies find themselves in today.453    The Biden administration placed an emphasis on the domestic454manufacturing of solar components. The policy was well designed455and well implemented. As a result, major panel manufacturers456began building assembly plants here in the United States.457Hanwha opened plans in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia; Silfab458opened plants in Burlington, Washington, and Fort Mill, South459Carolina; JA in Phoenix, Arizona; Jinko in Jacksonville,460Florida. It is important to note that the policy leaned on461carrots rather than sticks. If a project used components with462high domestic content, it was eligible for higher tax credits.463This incentive drove the market and ultimately drove464manufacturers to invest in U.S. operations.465    Currently, these manufacturing plants are not building466solar panels from the ground up. They are still primarily467assembly plants. They receive subcomponents from around the468globe, and the finished product is assembled in the U.S. This469represents a huge step forward in increasing the domestic470content of panels installed in the U.S., but it is worth nothing471that a panel with every single subcomponent made in the United States472is mostly aspirational. It is not realistic given today's global supply473chains. The previous policy took this into account.474    The tariffs being implemented in 2025 are all sticks and no475carrots. In fact, many of the financial incentives that the476industry has started to leverage have been swept off the table.477It is possible the courts may bring some of these incentive and478grant monies back. It is also possible they will not. Most479concerning, it is possible that Congress will reduce tax480credits in the coming months, something SEBANE members very481strongly oppose.482    With all subcomponents now facing a range of different483punitive tariffs, the industry has gone from the possibility of484bonus incentives, with prices remaining relatively stable, to a485situation where there are now no bonus incentives and prices486are starting to fluctuate wildly. This rapidly changing487landscape creates substantial instability.488    The solar industry, both in Massachusetts and across the489nation, is quite accustomed to policy-driven ups and downs.490After all, that is why it is so commonly referred to by491insiders as the ``the solar coaster.'' We have weathered many492storms, and it is my expectation that the industry will weather493this storm, as well. And it is critical that we do so, since494solar remains one of the most powerful tools available for495combatting climate change. Solar not only increase our nation's496energy independence and enhances grid resiliency, it also497offers a reliable, affordable source of electricity that moves498us away from the dangers of fossil fuels.499    Senator Markey, as you know well, the battle to prevent500climate catastrophe is not going particularly well. That said,501giving up the fight is simply not an option. To the greatest502extent possible, SEBANE's members, along with solar companies503across the country, will continue doing what we do, both as504small businesses seeking to grow and prosper and as a group of505dedicated professionals helping civilization avoid the very506worst impacts of climate change.507    Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.508    [The prepared statement of Mr. d'Arbeloff follows:]509510[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]511512    Senator Markey. Thank you, Nick, so much, and thank you for513career-long dedication to these issues.514    Next we are going to hear from Dr. Aisha Francis, President515of Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute. In 2021, Dr. Francis516became the school's first female President. As President, Dr.517Francis has been an advocate for clean technology, overseeing518the school's efforts to gear programs to its training students519in fields such as green building practices, renewable energy,520and electric vehicle technology.521    President Francis, thank you for hosting us here at522Franklin Cummings Tech. It looks absolutely beautiful, and I523know that, as you told me earlier, there are 1,100 students who524are benefitting from all of your great teaching here at the525school. Thank you for hosting us, and we are looking forward to526your opening statement.527528STATEMENT OF AISHA FRANCIS, PH.D., PRESIDENT AND CEO, BENJAMIN529     FRANKLIN CUMMINGS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BOSTON, MA530531    Ms. Francis. Thank you so much, Senator Markey. Good532morning, Chair Ernst, Ranking Member Markey, and distinguished533members of the Committee, and thank you so much for being in534our home. We are happy to have you here, and for the535opportunity to give testimony this morning.536    I want to speak with you about Franking Cummings Tech and537how we look at bringing economic opportunity to our students538and graduates in the communities we serve through supporting539small businesses and the economy by supplying them with the540talent that is needed for them to grow, particularly for clean541energy companies and other companies that might not consider542themselves clean energy companies but rely on talent that is543educated in the clean energy sector, which we do.544    Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology is545directly connected to our namesake, Benjamin Franklin, who left5461,000 pounds to the City of Boston for the purpose of teaching547people a trade and making sure they could go into548apprenticeship and becoming contributing members of society.549And all these decades and centuries later, we are proud to550continue that legacy and to make a very clear connection551between that legacy and sustainability.552    From the student application process all the way through553job placement, Franklin Cummings Tech makes sure that we554empower learnings to achieve their career goals and attain555economic advancement through flexible, hands-on technical and556trade education. We are a two-year college, and we believe in557making education affordable.558    And who are our students and what are our outcomes? We have559an 84 percent job placement rate. Our alum report a median560income of almost $60,000 one year after graduation, which is561important considering that their annual household income at562time of graduation is less than $35,000. And 46 percent of our563students are first-generation college students, almost all of564whom receive financial assistance.565    We also believe in early college programming and making566sure high school is even more valuable to students by making it567possible to receive an entire year of college-level credit while568students are in high school.569    So throughout history we have also frequently adapted our570curriculum to meet the needs of industry and match the pace of571technological advances and changes. This prepares graduates and572citizens for in-demand jobs, which is important to keep573economies humming.574    Things change. We know that. Soon after this particular575building was opened in 1908, there was a line of people waiting576around the block to take classes that taught them how to repair577the Model T Ford. Today, we have people lining up to learn578about hybrid and electric vehicle technology. So sometimes579things change, and in other ways they stay the same. One thing580we are very fortunate about is that in 2023, we received581investment from community-directed spending--thank you, Senator582Markey--for our Center for Energy Efficiency and the Trades.583The center was established a few years ago to encapsulate and584better organize sustainability programming that had already585been happening across our campus in multiple majors. It is an586example of how important it is to thoughtfully prepare for what587is coming and make sure that good-paying, in-demand jobs that588align with the skills that are available in local marketplaces589happen at the college level.590    We believe it is important to serve as an intermediary591between the workplace and the talent pool. It is important role592that colleges play. It is an important role for society. Our593Center for Energy Efficiency and the Trades does this by giving594companies who are looking for clean tech talent one place where595they can search and partner for the talent they need to grow596their businesses.597    Affordable, high-quality programs that align with598sustainability, that are offered through certificate, associate599degree education is an important aspect of the small business600ecosystem, and I am going to spend some time explaining how.601    We expertly train untapped talent, mostly people who are602first-generation college students, immigrants, children of603immigrants, and others who have chosen to go into clean tech604careers or careers in sustainability. And the demand for that605work has been outstripping supply. These areas include606renewable energy technology, hybrid and electric vehicle607technology, HVAC and refrigeration including heat pump608installation and technology, smart building technology,609electric power generation, and more. Programs offered through610our center create pathways to home ownership, help graduates611contribute to the 60-odd Massachusetts towns and cities that612are represented by the students we serve in this college.613    Good jobs create shared prosperity. The clean energy sector614creates shared prosperity for students and our families by615preparing them to become part of the skilled workforce and by616helping to make sure that the small businesses, and really all617businesses, thrive by having the talent they need to grow.618    In addition, we relaunched and invested in business619management degree program that teaches students how to run and620market their own businesses. Why did we do this? Because more621than 50 percent of our students share that they have622aspirations to become small business owners, and we want to623make sure that they have the skills to fulfill their dreams and624have the talent that they need to do that.625    Our Center for Energy Efficiency and the Trades received a626tremendous boost when Senator Markey and Senator Warren627facilitated $800,000 in community-directed spending. A little628money goes a long way in helping to propel the flywheel. These629funds brought critical resources and infrastructure to this630program so that we were able to respond to exploding demand for631talent. We hired an additional HVAC faculty member because632there is a waitlist for that program. That program has actually633doubled in size in a few years, and now, thanks to investment,634can accommodate up to 125 students. It is critical that we have635places that train the talent that companies need in636technologies such as heat pump installation, other forms of637smart building technology.638    Community-directed spending and public investment also639allowed us to expand career navigation services by hiring a640career navigator, to build connections between students and the641hundreds of companies that are ardently seeking employees who642are trained in green tech skills. Through professional career643navigation we guide our students into secure jobs.644    We deployed infrastructure improvement in the form of645software platforms that helped us better track our students'646progress and retention, and allowed those of them who are in647co-ops and apprenticeships to securely take exams while they648are off-campus. We want our students to be able to keep their649commitments to college and keep their work schedules at the650same time, and now we have better technology modes to allow651them to do that.652    The most essential elements of having adequate clean energy653programming are to make sure we have community-based654partnerships that facilitate better knowledge and awareness655that the programs are available, and we have been able to656achieve those aims through partnerships with organizations such657as Castle Square Tenants Association, just across the street,658unions such as IBEW, and other community-based organizations659such as Jewish Vocational Services. All of those organizations660have members, residents, and program participant who are taking661classes and participating in our programming. This is very much662an ecosystem, and we would like very much to see it remain663strong.664    We have been able to strengthen our curriculum and respond665to the needs for local talent by making sure we have hands-on,666project-based learning, making sure we work together to enhance667student engagement and skill acquisition, while providing small668businesses and larger companies with the skilled employees they669need.670    To our minds, energy efficiency and clean technology is not671an outlier in fields such as construction, building management,672automotive technology, and manufacturing. Rather, it is an673established imperative today. It just makes business sense.674    We have excellent small business partners who partner with675us to develop curriculum and train our students. Some of these676include construction firms such as Delbrook/JKS of Quincy,677building automation company, American Energy Management, based678in Westborough, Cummings Properties of Woburn, and facility man679agement company, UG2 of Boston, and 128 Plumbing in Wakefield,680to name a few.681    It is projected that Massachusetts will continue to need to682grow its local clean energy workforce. And as you heard my683colleagues share, it is also true that many companies are still684saying it is too difficult for them to find the skilled685workforce they need to do the work that they have. At Franklin686Cummings Tech and our partners we are working to bridge this687gap and meet this demand, and we take pride in the fact that688because of the work that we do and the industries that we are689serving, enrollment has increased by 40 percent in 4 years. We690know we can do our part to keep this flywheel going and make691sure we grow the workforce and place our graduates on a pathway692to working at small businesses for the betterment of economic693advancement and to support clean energy and sustainability.694    Funding from public sources, like what we received through695community-directed spending for the clean energy programs we696offer is direly necessary. We hope and very much want this697programming and support to continue, both here and in our peer698institutions, and we will continue to produce significant699return on investment for individuals, small businesses, and the700economy.701    Thank you very much.702    [The prepared statement of Ms. Francis follows:]703704[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]705706    Senator Markey. Thank you so much, Doctor. And last but, I707think kind of our capstone here, about what is possible, is708Josh Aviv, who is the Founder and CEO of Somerville-based709SparkCharge. I met Josh 7 or 8 years ago over at Greentown,710when Emily was running Greentown, and he was just in a little711alley in a booth at the time. And he was all concept, and, of712course, concept is 20 percent. Execution is 80 percent.713    So he has gone from the concept to the execution quite714brilliantly, which is really where young people are in clean715tech right now. He founded SparkCharge from his dorm room at716Syracuse University, moved over to Somerville, raised over $50717million--$50 million--from investment, including $1 million718from his appearance on Shark Tank. And he is here today to719share his experience in running a successful small business in720the clean energy sector, now not just Somerville but now721nationwide.722    So welcome, Josh. We are just so proud of everything you723have done.724725    STATEMENT OF JOSHUA AVIV, FOUNDER AND CEO, SPARKCHARGE,726                         SOMERVILLE, MA727728    Mr. Aviv. Thank you so much. I deeply appreciate it. Good729morning to everyone. It is a pleasure to be here. Senator730Markey, esteemed Committee members, and fellow participants, my731name is Josh Aviv. I am the CEO of SparkCharge, a732Massachusetts-based small business committed to building the733future of electric vehicle charging.734    At SparkCharge we provide mobile, flexible charging to735electric vehicle and electric vehicle fleet, reducing the736infrastructure and downtime from 2 to 3 years to as little as 3737to 7 days, meaning that we allow electrification to grow in an738advanced and accelerated way, without the need for costly739infrastructure hurdles.740    Today I am honored to discuss how Federal policies741profoundly impact not only our ability but the ability of742countless other small businesses in Massachusetts and across743the nation to innovate, grow, and lead in the clean energy744economy.745    First, I would like to start by talking about the impacts746of tariffs. They significantly affect businesses by increasing747the cost of essential components by up to 30 percent. We have748seen this firsthand where battery components, electrical749components have now skyrocketed in price, meaning that it750becomes almost impossible for us to go out and offer affordable751EV charging to certain areas in the EV ecosystem.752    Most of which, when we think about it, batteries and753electronic equipment remain dependent on global supply chains.754For small businesses, these increased costs result in reduced755competitiveness, slower innovation, and financial strain, as we756scale operations and strive to offer affordable, clean energy757solutions.758    For EV companies and clean energy companies here in the759United States, we must remain competitive on a global stage. We760cannot just simply remain competitive here in the United761States. There are companies and small businesses around the762world that are trying to compete with us for the American763dollar. And when we fail to do that, we often lose market764share, and that reduces the amount of employees we can hire,765the growth that we can bring,not only to the commonwealth but766businesses in areas across the United States.767    When we think about the Inflation Reduction Act, it has768been transformative for the clean energy sector and companies769like ours. Its incentives have spurred crucial investment, job770creation, and technological innovation in clean energy. Should771these incentives be removed, we would see disruption in ongoing772projects, decreased future investment, and a loss of critical773momentum in our journey towards electrification and774sustainability. The elimination of the IRA-supported incentives775would increase the cost of capital significantly, diminishing776our global competitive position.777    We have made so many advancements here in the United States778with small businesses coming up with innovative technology that779we want to deploy, that only help our ecosystem and bring more780jobs, and to take two steps back after we have taken a step781forward would truly be heartbreaking.782    Moreover, when we think about investment in clean energy783companies we have amazing programs like MassCEC and Greentown784Labs. But when we also think about it, there are other funding785sources such as venture capital that also help companies grow786and develop and scale. Within the clean energy sector, venture787capital was instrumental in helping us finance research,788develop and scale operations, and expand our market research. A789reduction in available venture capital funding due to changing790Federal policies and economic uncertainty would severely limit791growth, stalling promising new technologies, and threatening792jobs and economic progress here in the state of Massachusetts,793where venture capital has always been a part of helping794companies grow and scale to a global presence.795    Manufacturing domestically here in the United States796remains a critical priority for us at SparkCharge. From day797one, we said we would never manufacture outside of the United798States, and we have been able to keep that promise. And other799small businesses here in the United States also have the800yearning to manufacture here in the United States. Local801manufacturing capabilities reduce supply chain vulnerabilities,802generate quality employment opportunities, and expedite the803innovation cycle. Federal support through incentives and804infrastructure investments strengthens our ability to produce805competitively priced produces domestically, enhancing business806resilience and national economic security.807    Additionally, the clean vehicle tax credits under current808Federal policies significantly stimulate demand for electric809vehicles, directly benefiting SparkCharge and the broader EV810ecosystem. Increased adoption rates of EVs naturally lead to811heightened demand for EV charging infrastructure solutions and812also open up the opportunity for blue-collar jobs to advance813and grow.814    When EV technology took off and charging stations were815being rolled out across the United States, there was a huge816demand for electricians across the United States. This demand817for electricians were able to provide jobs in countless818communities around the United States to offer good, high-paying819jobs, to advance clean technology at a rate that we had never820before seen here in the United States. If we lose that821momentum, all of those advanced jobs, all of those jobs for822electricians, trade workers that went into electrifying this823country and moving this country forward could be in jeopardy.824    Lastly, tax credits like Research and Development Tax825Credits, tailored specifically for small businesses, are vital,826leveling the playing field by enabling innovative startups and827small companies like ours to invest robustly in research,828workforce development, and growth. Eliminating these credits829could disproportionately burden small businesses, increase830operational costs, and weaken our competitive standing relative831to larger, established corporations.832    In conclusion, continued Federal support through fair833tariffs, sustained incentives from the IRA, a robust834environment for venture capital, strengthened domestic835manufacturing capabilities, stable clean vehicle tax credits,836and targeted small business tax credits are indispensable to837SparkCharge and similar innovative companies. Such supportive838policies ensure small businesses remain competitive,839innovative, and integral in driving America's clean energy840future.841    Thank you for providing me this opportunity to testify842today. SparkCharge remains steadfast in our commitment to843collaborate with policymakers to reinforce the clean energy844economy, promote innovation, and foster sustainable, equitable845growth for our communities.846    [The prepared statement of Mr. Aviv follows:]847848[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]849850    Senator Markey. Thank you. As everyone can see, this is851just such an incredible all-star panel which has gathered here852to talk about the clean energy future and the threats to it.853    So Josh, President Trump, when he introduced his tariffs on854180 countries around the world, including an island that only855had penguins on it, it didn't seem as though it was well856thought out in terms of what the impact was going to be,857especially on small businesses in our country. So how many858employees do you have now?859    Mr. Aviv. We are approaching close to 40 employees across860the United States.861    Senator Markey. Tell me what you are doing in L.A., in862California.863    Mr. Aviv. In L.A. we are charging electric vehicles for864large corporations like Uber, allowing them to continue to865electrify. We have operations where we service some of the866largest fleets, everyone from food to agriculture, OEMs, ride867share, last-mile delivery. We power electric vehicles at scale.868    Senator Markey. At scale. And how many states are you in869now?870    Mr. Aviv. We currently have operations across all 50871states, our availability of operations across all 60 states872here in the United States.873    Senator Markey. And so you would continue to need more874highly trained people, to provide these services?875    Mr. Aviv. Yes, sir.876    Senator Markey. So again, what is the impact the tariffs877are having on you right now?878    Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. So the impact that tariffs are having879on us is we are starting to slow down investment in battery. We880are starting to slow down investment in, call it, more881technological advances. And then we are also starting to look882at are these fleets now going to slow down their investment in883electric vehicles.884    So we have had to slightly start to pull back on hiring, as885well. We originally planned to grow to 50, 60-plus people this886year. We have now started to hear basically from fleets,887``Well, look, we have got to understand the impact of the888tariffs. There is a lot of uncertainty in the market.''889    And so if those fleets scale back and they don't push890forward to electrification, then that inhibits our ability to891grow and hire, as well. So we have started to scale back our892hiring.893    We have also started to see a lot of venture capital money894really stay on the sidelines, is what I would say. We have895heard from investors, ``Well, depending on how this goes,896depending on how the tariffs go, depending on how policy goes,897that's how we are going to deploy capital to new, innovative898companies like yours. But we really just want to sit back and899wait and see how this plays out, because we are just unsure.''900    So there are millions of dollars that are being basically901sidelined because of the uncertainty, not only around the902tariffs but really uncertainty around where are we moving903forward as a country.904    Senator Markey. And Mr. d'Arbeloff, are you seeing the same905thing in your industry?906    Mr. d'Arbeloff. Well, we absolutely are. I think that most907solar companies are not eligible for venture capital. The908intellectual property component of our businesses is such that909hit is not a great match. As such, cash flow is king to every910solar company, and when a solar company is forced to use that911precious cash flow to make long-term procurements to hedge against912the instability we see ahead, it really constrains the business.913It really ties their hands behind their back in terms of what can914and can't be done, and frankly, can put the business at risk.915    Senator Markey. So you are seeing the same thing that Josh916is seeing.917    Mr. d'Arbeloff. Absolutely.918    Senator Markey. And so those are two good examples. But Dr.919Reichert is able to see the whole state. That is her job. So920what is happening here in this sector, Doctor, in terms of the921impact tariffs are having?922    Ms. Reichert. Well, I will just add to what Josh referenced923a moment ago. In terms of the young companies that we work with924across Massachusetts, we had recently tried to understand925better what impacts they are facing in this short, 100-day926period where so much has changed over and over again.927    What we learned was that change is causing so much928uncertainty in all the ways that Josh just mentioned. Should we929hire? Should we not hire? Should we expand, or should we hold930back on that expansion? How do we think about inventory, or not931have inventory?932    The uncertainty is the big thing that comes through the933survey results, over and over again, and that spills out into934the economy. When you are talking about clean energy jobs in935Massachusetts, we have 115,000 jobs, but we also have induced936and indirect jobs that depend on this industry. So whenever you937think about, well, the supply chain for clean energy, that938instability trickles down to less hiring, less contracts, and939it has a much broader impact than on the industry alone.940    Senator Markey. Yeah. With much fanfare, yesterday the941President announced that he had reached an agreement with Great942Britain on a trade deal, but it looks like it is less an943agreement than a framework to reach an agreement. And that,944again, is something would only have been the first of all the945agreements that he has to reach, although he hasn't reached an946agreement, in reality, on all of the key details.947    So again, all of that just leaves an incredible cloud of948uncertainty, especially over the smaller companies. The big949companies, they might be able to ride it out for 6 months, ride950it out for a year, be able to make some adjustments. But for951smaller companies it becomes less ``liberation day,'' which952President Trump used as a way to describe all of his tariffs,953than an ``extermination day,'' a ``liquidation day'' for so954many smaller businesses who move week to week, month to month.955And they have to figure it out on an ongoing basis. They don't956have that kind of margin for survival over a longer period of957time.958    So again, coming back to you, Mr. d'Arbeloff, how many959companies do you represent?960    Mr. d'Arbeloff. We have about 80 members in SEBANE.961    Senator Markey. And how many, do you think, are becoming962more vulnerable because of these tariffs, or even the threats963of the removal of the tax break? Mr. d'Arbeloff. I would964estimate 55 of our member companies are actually solar companies,965and I do not think there is a966single one of them that is not negatively impacted by what we967are seeing. It is a very, very difficult situation. As I noted,968solar is called the ``solar coaster'' for a reason. There are969lots of ups and downs, and we figure it out. There are plenty970of businesses in the solar industry that have failed over the971years, but there have also been quite a few who have prevailed972and figured out how to ride these waves. That said, what we are973seeing today is really unprecedented in terms of974unpredictability. And so I would say that the threat is very,975very real and quite frightening.976    Senator Markey. In 2009, when Congressman Henry Waxman and977I passed our legislation, the Waxman-Markey Bill, that passed978the House of Representatives and would have reduced greenhouse979gasses by 80 percent by the year 2050, the total installed980capacity of solar in the United States, from the beginning of981time until 2009, was 2,000 megawatts. That is all we had. Last982year, there was 40,000 new megawatts of solar installed in the983United States of America.984    So this has just moved dramatically with all of the985incentives, all of the states that have moved, all of the986cities that have moved, and the Federal incentives that have987been placed on the books.988    So it is clearly a vertical story that, of course, the989natural gas industry is frightened of because it can, in fact,990substitute for natural gas-generated electricity. So now they991have gone beyond saying, well, solar is important, but only as992a small, small portion, to a point where, in 2024, almost all993of the new installed electrical capacity in the United States994just came from solar and wind and new battery storage995technologies, including another company, Form Energy, which996came out of Greentown, as well, which is showing that you can997have battery storage at a utility scale. And they are in998Weirton, West Virginia, now, with more than 400 employees999there, coming out of Somerville. Like Josh's story, going1000national.1001    So all of this is absolutely an indication of how we have1002created a job creation machine, and it is working, but it is a1003threat. It is a threat to the oil industry, the more that all-1004electric vehicles are on the road. We put 70 percent of the1005oil, which we consume in America, goes into gasoline tanks, and1006the more that vehicles don't have gasoline tanks will lower the1007need for new oil. And the same thing is true for the natural1008gas industry in terms of electrical generation. The more that1009solar and wind are deploying, there is less natural gas, less1010number of pipelines which we are going to need.1011    So it is becoming, obviously, the storyline, and to the1012extent to which Donald Trump said to the natural gas and oil1013industry, if you raise me $1 billion, just in April of last1014year, I will kill the clean energy industry. So that is where1015we are, and it is not anything other than a policy decision1016that they are making. But it is on behalf of the fossil fuel1017industry. It is on behalf of the legacy industry.1018    And then it is coupled with a tariff policy which isn't1019aimed at anything that is rationally explainable because it1020doesn't just affect the clean energy industry, it is affecting1021small businesses across the entirety of the nation. There are102234 million small businesses in the United States. We have1023734,000 small businesses in Massachusetts. We have 7 million1024people, so there is one small business1025for every 10 people in the state of Massachusetts, and the1026number is true for every single state in the union. It is 3301027million people and 33 million small businesses. So it is a 10-1028to-1 ratio. And 30 percent of all trade in our nation is done1029by small businesses, and they represent 97 percent of all1030business that do trade with other countries.1031    So this then becomes something that goes right to the heart1032of small business in Massachusetts or across the country, the1033ability to be able to plan. Again, they are not a big business.1034If a small restaurant chain here in Massachusetts, trading with1035maybe 15 different countries, for different foods or products1036which they need in their business, and they can't be sure what1037they are going to be having to pay in a tariff, or the supplier1038in the other country is absolutely uncertain as to whether or1039not they have a reliable partner in the United States, it casts1040a shadow over it, their small businesses.1041    So I would like to just come back to Dr. Francis for a1042second, because you are providing the new workers that Josh or1043Nick's trade association can use.1044    Ms. Francis. Correct.1045    Senator Markey. And you mentioned earlier that you are1046partnered with IBEW 103, the electricians' union. Could you1047explain that partnership and the enthusiasm for young students,1048you know, minority students, young women, to get into this1049field?1050    Ms. Francis. Absolutely. So with the partnership that we1051have with that particular union, members who are well1052established can receive credit for the training center1053education that they have received at the union and apply that1054credit towards an associate degree here in college. So these1055kinds of partnerships, these alternative pathways to receiving1056the credentials that folks are looking for, that are required1057to get into the field and take these jobs, is really an1058important way to really bring untapped talent into the clean1059tech space. And it is important for small businesses, as well,1060because a lot of times the large companies have people beating1061down the doors to work at their companies, and it might not1062necessary be the same came for small businesses. So it is1063important that we are also responding to the talent needs for1064small businesses, as well. But union partnerships are a really1065important part of the ecosystem, and we are happy to be working1066with them.1067    Senator Markey. Yeah, and the Federal investments, they1068spur new projects. They create new hubs.1069    Ms. Francis. Absolutely.1070    Senator Markey. But many of them are union jobs, as well.1071Many of the clean technology tax credits in the Inflation1072Reduction Act are worth more when developers pay workers a1073prevailing wage and use registered apprentices, and that is not1074an accident. It is on purpose. These job standards will result1075in better projects, better policies, better communities. Could1076you expand on that, in terms of apprenticeship programs that1077your students are able to graduate into?1078    Ms. Francis. Yes. We have delivered work-based learning,1079which essentially means that we want to make sure that students1080aren't only learning in their classrooms and theoretically, but1081that they have something that they apply that to. So projects1082with compa10831084nies, like working with [unclear] are important, and so are co-1085ops, so are apprenticeships.1086    So we have been part of pioneering something called the1087apprenticeship degrees, which is a method whereby the1088traditional apprenticeship has been adapted with investment1089from the state, and the State Office of Labor and Workforce1090Development really helps us to navigate a way in which you can1091pair and partner an apprenticeship with a college degree. And1092it is wonderful. It opens up all kinds of avenues for people to1093get paid while they are in college. As I shared, many of our1094students are very resource constrained and people want to bring1095forward the opportunity to work and go to school. And it is1096helpful for companies, too, so that they have the talent pool1097that they need earlier and sooner, so there is less pressure on1098people thinking that they have to do either a job or college.1099You can do both at the same time.1100    So we have really taken the apprenticeship from the days of1101Ben Franklin and modernized it. So the apprenticeship degree is1102something that we invest in heavily here.1103    Senator Markey. Thank you. And I think you mentioned1104earlier that the student, as they graduate, starts at $60,000 a1105year.1106    Ms. Francis. That is the average, yes.1107    Senator Markey. That is the average, $60,000 a year.1108    Dr. Reichert, could you talk about wages in the clean1109energy sector of Massachusetts, in general, just so people can1110understand how big of an opportunity this is. Kids figure out1111why they should study this subject because their buddies are1112telling them, this could really be a big payoff, if you get1113this background, made by your own personal commitment to1114learning about a new industry. So what is the status for people1115who work in this sector?1116    Ms. Reichert. Sure. Well, many clean energy occupations1117currently earn hourly wages that are higher than average hourly1118wages in Massachusetts, and they come with real benefits, long-1119term stability, and the opportunity to build a meaningful1120career.1121    So for perspective, the statewide median hourly wage is1122about $29, and in the clean energy sector we are seeing wages1123that far exceed that benchmark. So for example, construction1124workers in clean energy earn a median wage of $64 an hour.1125Electrical engineers earn $60 an hour. Even roles like1126electricians and HVAC technicians, which are core to1127decarbonizing our buildings, earn $39 and $35 per hours,1128respectively, which is both well above the statewide median as1129well as the national median.1130    Even workers who are just starting out often earn wages1131above the state average. And I think Dr. Francis can tell you1132stories that oftentimes it is hard to keep these students long1133enough through their training because they get snapped up like1134that. There is real demand for these workers, and there will1135continue to be as we march towards our climate goals.1136    Senator Markey. Which is, I think, great news for young1137people. And again, I just want to come back to Dr. Francis a1138little bit, because you talked about a partnership that you1139have with high schools, to get them college credits while they1140are in school. I think, is it Madison High School?1141    Ms. Francis. We have that partnership with Madison Park,1142Dearborn STEM Academy, Cambridge Rindge and Latin. We actu11431144ally have 16 or 17 high schools, students from 16 or 17 high1145schools taking advantage of our early college program.1146    Senator Markey. So what you do is you help to introduce1147young people, as juniors or seniors in high school, into these1148areas.1149    Ms. Francis. Yes, because the sooner we get them, the1150better.1151    Senator Markey. So they then can kind of see the future1152earlier. It is kind of like parents taking their kids on1153college weekends, to go see which school they might apply to.1154    Ms. Francis. Yes.1155    Senator Markey. But what you do is you go right to the high1156schools.1157    Ms. Francis. Demystifying----1158    Senator Markey. And you say, ``Here it is. This is the1159future. And if you start to study a little bit harder, work on1160this, come to our school, go to another school that has these1161particular skill sets, it can be an incredible future.'' Do you1162mention how much people can make when you talk to the juniors1163and seniors in high school?1164    Ms. Francis. It is one of the highlights of the talks that1165we do in community, and it is important because people need1166ways to sustain themselves in their communities. This is why we1167are doing this work, and this is how we can incentivize folks1168to make an investment, a post-secondary education investment in1169their education beyond high school. Because the truth is that1170it does still matter to have some training beyond high school,1171for the time that it takes to deal with voltage and1172electricity, and these are complicated fields. And while we can1173push as much of that training as we can into high school, it1174does still require post-secondary training.1175    Senator Markey. Right. And again, the workforce is there,1176ready to go.1177    Ms. Francis. The workforce is there.1178    Senator Markey. It is getting the training, and now we have1179to make sure that the companies are there----1180    Ms. Francis. That is right.1181    Senator Markey [continuing]. To be able to hire them. We1182have to make sure that the policies reflect that.1183    So I want to come back again to Josh and to Nick to talk1184about tax policy. We just talked about tariffs. Now let's talk1185about the tax policies, and which of these tax policies are1186central to ensuring that we see the continued investment in1187growth in the clean energy sector.1188    So if you could, Josh, focus upon that area and tell us why1189it is so vital.1190    Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. When we think about the Inflation1191Reduction Act, for us this is a vital policy. When we think1192about the growth of EVs and clean tech and clean tech1193investments here in the United States that spur job growth1194across the United States, this is something that has proven to1195not only be successful but helpful to not only just companies1196here in Massachusetts but companies across the United States1197that are looking to further clean tech advancements, further1198grow the clean tech economy.1199    And if that is removed, then we are really taking a serious1200step backwards. We are taking a serious step backwards in job1201growth. We are taking a serious step backwards in innovation.1202We are taking a serious step backwards in investment. And we1203are really giv12041205ing up that advancement to outside companies, outside countries1206that want to take advantage of that.1207    I firmly believe that the U.S. dollar is still the most1208powerful dollar in the world, and U.S. companies are innovating1209and creating innovative solutions to go after and solve1210problems for U.S.-based and worldwide-based consumers. So if we1211lose these tax credit, if we lose these policies, then we are1212really giving up the competitive advantage, and we are losing1213an opportunity that I think we will never see again.1214    Senator Markey. Never see again. Mr. d'Arbeloff.1215    Mr. d'Arbeloff. Well, I think one thing I would note is1216that the ITC, the Investment Tax Credit, which has for a long1217time been 30 percent of system price--in other words, the1218investor or the owner of the system is allowed to take a 301219percent tax credit off their tax burden in the year in which1220the system goes live--is absolutely vital to driving the1221industry.1222    By the way, it is also worth noting that this perhaps1223wouldn't be necessary or anywhere near as important if fossil1224fuels were to be charged for the externalities that they1225generate. In other words, the damage that they do to the1226environment is not a burden that they bear. They are allowed to1227pollute for free. And were that not the case, were there a1228carbon tax, were Waxman-Markey have come to pass, we would be1229in a very different situation here, wherein something like the1230ITC would not be quite as critical.1231    But we are where we are, and the ITC drives down payback1232for solar systems in a way that is just fundamental for the1233investment community, and for homeowners. So for really anyone1234who purchases a solar system or invests in a solar system, it1235is what gives a level of predictability to the investment that1236allows all parties to engage in the transaction and make it1237happen.1238    I think that if this were badly threatened, I hate to throw1239around big words, but it would be an existential threat to the1240way that the industry operates. And as you noted, solar and1241clean energy is now exceeding fossil fuels in terms of new1242energy resources per year. I think that if the ITC were to be1243pulled back in any significant fashion, we would----1244    Senator Markey. For the audience, ITC is----1245    Mr. d'Arbeloff. The Investment Tax Credit.1246    Senator Markey. And how is the Investment Tax Credit1247applied to a small business.1248    Mr. d'Arbeloff. Great question. So if you are a small1249business and you put solar on the roof of your facility, then1250you are allowed to, using a one-page, actually I think it is a1251two-page, IRS form, you input the price of the solar system1252that you purchased. It then calculates 30 percent of that1253system purchase price, and you are allowed to deduct that from1254your overall tax burden. It is not a tax deduction. You are1255actually taking a credit on the taxes you owe for that year. So1256it is hugely valuable to the way in which solar transactions go1257down, and were it removed it would be hugely problematic.1258    The same is true for homeowners, by the way, where a1259homeowner can do the exact same thing. It is a different IRS1260form. It is a different section of the tax code, but same exact1261process.12621263    Senator Markey. Now the interesting thing, of course, is1264that the oil, gas, and coal industry have had a tax break for1265100 years. So it is not as though, as they try to call this1266socialistic, it is not as though they haven't been the biggest1267beneficiary of socialism, for 100 years, with their tax breaks.1268And then we try to put tax breaks on the books for the1269competitors, and all of a sudden they are outraged that you1270could have such a system in our great country, while not taking1271the tax breaks for the oil industry or the gas industry off the1272books, simultaneously.1273    So can you explain that and how troubling that is?1274    Mr. d'Arbeloff. Yes. That is true. The tax breaks offered1275to the fossil fuel industry are substantive and dwarf what the1276solar industry might receive, although they are not truly1277visible by the consumer. They are extraction tax credits, which1278allow for them to engage in R&D activities at a substantially1279reduced rate than what it would cost them directly were such1280tax breaks not available to them.1281    So it is sort of a behind-the-scenes, behind-closed-doors1282tax credit that no one really understands other than the fossil1283fuel companies themselves.1284    Senator Markey. Yeah. And again, let's go back to 2009,1285once again. It is not that long ago, 15 years ago, when Waxman-1286Markey was passing in the House of Representatives. And then,1287according to some estimates, the largest amount of money ever1288spent to defeat any piece of legislation in congressional1289history was spent to kill Waxman-Markey in the Senate. There1290were only 2,000 all-electric vehicles in the United States,1291total. There were only 2,000 megawatts of solar in the United1292States.1293    Now, coming back to Josh, in the first quarter of this1294year, January, February, and March of this year, there were1295380,000 new all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids sold.1296Electricity, plug it in. That is like a million and a half1297vehicles that would be sold this year, not 2,000 total in 2009,1298but an explosive increase.1299    So that is a big story. But the tax breaks help, right, to1300make sure that all of that can--and in the same way Nick1301explained how the tax breaks work, could you also explain how1302the tax breaks work to incentivize people to install those1303charging stations?1304    Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. So there are tax incentives not only1305on installing EV charging stations but also on owning and1306buying an electric vehicle. And when we think about the growth1307of electric vehicle adoption here in the United States in the1308first quarter of this year, a lot of that was driven by growth1309outside of what you would say were mostly popular EV states.1310Back in 2009, those 2,000 vehicles were most likely populated1311in California, right. Now, here, 2025, that growth has expanded1312across the United States, outside of California, and even in1313more rural areas. We are starting to see adoption happening in1314Texas. We are starting to see adoption happening in Ohio, in1315Michigan. And that is due to a lot of the tax credits that are1316available to owning an electric vehicle and install an EV1317charging station.1318    So we are seeing this massive growth that, to date, you1319bring up a really good point. We grew EV charging in '21, but I1320think the bigger headline here is that electric vehicle growth1321in America, since its inception, has never taken a decrease. It1322has always13231324grown, year over year over year. So a lot of times people will1325come out and say, ``Well, is electric vehicle adoption growing?1326Is it slowing?'' Year over year, we have never sold less1327electric vehicles here in the United States.1328    So these tax credits, these benefits, help spur that1329growth, not only on the EV side and the charging station side,1330but think about the person that comes out and installs that1331charging station. So the trickle-down effect is that now, as1332more EVs grow across the United States, they are opening up1333more job growth for people to actually earn a living off this1334clean energy economy.1335    Senator Markey. Thank you, Josh. Yeah, and it is not any1336longer just Tesla. I think there are 78 models that can be1337purchased from other companies. So back then, you know, 151338years ago, it was just a very small number of vehicles that1339were being produced. But now it is Ford, it is General Motors,1340it is companies around the globe that want to build here. Yeah,1341Josh.1342    Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. And if you think about it, as well,1343there are more OEMs. General Motors is doing an amazing job1344coming----1345    Senator Markey. OEM?1346    Mr. Aviv. Original manufacturer.1347    Senator Markey. Meaning General Motors and Ford.1348    Mr. Aviv. General Motors and Ford. Yes, sir. They are1349coming out with new EVs, and they are getting better and better1350at price points where people can afford them. And if we think1351about how we are going to go out and scale electric vehicle1352adoption, there has got to be affordable models out there. And1353when we think about Tesla, who started producing electric1354vehicles, General Motors, who now, I think, is almost on par,1355if not they are about to pass Tesla, in electric vehicles sold.1356That means that the American consumer now wants electric1357vehicles. It is no longer the cool thing. It is now starting to1358become the economical way to travel.1359    So we expect to see more electric vehicle growth. And then1360when we think about the adoption of fleets, as well--so fleets1361now adopting electric vehicles in the thousands--you are going1362to start to see more electric vehicles on the road. And we need1363these policies in place to continue to spur that growth and1364continue to bring along that economic development and job1365growth.1366    Senator Markey. Yeah. And that is just so important. There1367is kind of an inexorable increase and consumer satisfaction.1368And we have come a long way when Donald Trump is running a car1369show on the lawn of the White House, to help out his buddy,1370Elon, to sell more vehicles. And Trump is going, ``I might buy1371one of these all-electric vehicles.'' So he might be actually,1372ironically, expanding the market rather than contracting it.1373    Yeah, Dr. Reichert.1374    Ms. Reichert. Can I just add, in terms of impacts here in1375Massachusetts, we have seen a 22 percent increase in clean1376transportation jobs, which encompasses EVs, since 2023. And the1377state was actually ranked nationally number one for the highest1378rate of growth in electric jobs in 2024. So this is having real1379impacts here at home, and obviously the type of tax credits1380that have been discussed here and those potentially not being1381available is going to cause impacts on real people's lives,1382real jobs, right here in Massachusetts.13831384    Senator Markey. And again, the way I view this is that1385President Trump is imposing tariffs without any clear plan, and1386putting a cloud over businesses, but especially small1387businesses. He is planning on cutting, by upwards of 401388percent, the budget for the National Institutes of Health,1389which is what we would call Kendall Square, finding the cure1390for Alzheimer's and diabetes and cancer and all the diseases1391which run through the genetics of people in our country but all1392around the planet. And we are the leader. We are clearly the1393leader in clean energy technology, as well. And meanwhile,1394China is moving very rapidly in biotech. They are investing1395massively in biotech.1396    I think, Josh, I just saw last month where there is a1397Chinese company that announced that they now have a battery1398which can be charged in 5 minutes for a vehicle. So do we want1399to pull out of the race with China and just giftwrap biotech1400and clean tech to the Chinese economy, or do we want to1401compete? Do we want to use our young people, you know, the1402Greentown, the engine, all of our university brainpower, to1403compete technologically.1404    So what is the risk, Josh, of this retreat?1405    Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. And I love that example, because1406everyone got excited when they showed that they could charge a1407car in 5 minutes. And the reality is that the technology that1408enabled that to happen was actually developed here in the1409United States, and it was actually demoed 5 years ago. It was1410nothing new. It was just a Chinese OEM that said, ``Oh look, we1411can do it.''1412    But believe it or not, the Combined Charging Standards,1413CCS, actually supports up to 1,000 kilowatts of energy that can1414go into a car, so that is your 5-minute charge. It is1415investment that is needed to roll out that infrastructure, that1416we developed here in the United States, that we were able to1417prove out 5 years ago.1418    So, anyway, when we think about the advancement, and when1419we think about other countries catching up to the United1420States, the United States is still in the lead in most1421categories, but other countries are like right behind us. And1422if we give up that lead, if we stop investing in clean tech, if1423we don't roll out the technology that we developed, innovated,1424and created here in the United States, if we don't roll that1425out, if we don't support that innovation, then we will be1426surpassed. And that is just a crime against humanity, to be1427able to develop the technology here, innovate it.1428    You know, when we think about a lot of the solar1429technology, as well, a lot of that was developed here in the1430United States, as well. We innovated on that, we patented on1431that, and then we stopped investing in it. And then other1432countries said, ``Look, that is a really great patent. That's1433really great technology. Let's innovate it and move it1434forward.''1435    So when you have this technology that has been created1436here, when you have U.S. government money that has been1437invested in that technology to bring it to market, and then we1438pull back, really we are just hurting ourselves. We are hurting1439the businesses, because we are not pushing that technology1440forward. We are not taking advantage. We are not reaping the1441benefit of the technology that we created and that we developed1442here in the United States.1443    So when we think about China and we think about the1444advances that they are making, really we have to continue to1445invest in clean14461447energy. We have to continue to invest in the clean energy1448economy. We have to continue to invest in innovation so that we1449maintain that lead and not give up our position.1450    Senator Markey. I agree with you, 100 percent. When there1451is a rival coming for you, when that rival has a plan, and that1452rival is energized, you have to have a plan. You have to1453respond. And that is why it is so important that the Boston1454Celtics have a plan tonight against the New York Knicks. They1455have got to come back. They have got to have a plan. And we1456need the same thing in biotech. We need the same thing in clean1457tech. That is the future. Not just for Massachusetts. It is the1458future for our country. We are only 5 percent of the world's1459population. We have to decide what we are going to make. We1460have to decide what we are going to produce.1461    Yes, Dr. Francis.1462    Ms. Francis. Senator, I just wanted to follow up on that by1463putting a finer point on what these jobs are. So for instance,1464in electric vehicle technology it does require different1465approaches to repair. So we have created a program that1466responds to that need, because there is a shortage of1467technicians who actually know how to deal with the electricity1468and the voltage.1469    So these are the kinds of things that we are talking about.1470So when you cut off the investment, you are also cutting off1471jobs for people, not only in Massachusetts but in local1472communities, because local repair people do that work. This is1473not work that is outsourced. This is work that is happening on1474the ground. So there is an entire infrastructure of roles that1475we are going to snuff out, and I just think people should know1476about that.1477    Senator Markey. Yeah. And my father graduated from the1478vocational program at Lawrence High School, and he became,1479ultimately, vice president of an electrical union in South1480Boston, UE. He was the vice president. And one of the earliest1481things I can hear from my father, as the oldest in the family,1482was ``Eddie, whatever you do, don't put your finger in the1483socket.'' So I was learning about electricity very young, from1484my father, who focused on it. And he could do anything with1485electricity.1486    And electricity is making a big comeback. We might have to1487double the capacity over the next generation. So there is a1488whole new generation, like my father, as they were starting1489this whole revolution, that once again will get reintroduced.1490But the technology is different. It requires even more1491sophistication. It is computer related, in many ways. You have1492to have wireless devices with you while you are trying to1493figure out how to do the installation, and it requires1494training.1495    And that is where young people want to go. They are smart.1496They want to move to the future. And between the tariffs and1497the potential removal of tax breaks, the future has a cloud1498over it in the areas where young people want to move to most1499ambitiously. So it is a pretty grave threat right now, which is1500why I am fighting so hard down in Washington.1501    Nick, did you want to add something right there, that I see1502you moving in on?1503    Mr. d'Arbeloff. No, I think we have passed the point. But I1504do think that we are on the verge of really solving some of the1505basic15061507problems that were associated with renewable technology. Early1508on, stones could be thrown at renewable by claiming it was1509intermittent, and that it couldn't power our industry and1510civilization because if the wind wasn't blowing and the sun1511wasn't shining.1512    But energy storage, as witnessed by Josh's company and many1513others, has grown and evolved by leaps and bounds, and we now1514can provide renewable baseload power to industry, to homes, and1515so forth. Baseload power is defined as constant, something that1516can be relied upon and depended upon, day in and day out. And1517the fact that we have now arrived at this incredibly critical1518milestone, only to head down what I can only say is a rabbit1519hole, is very, very unfortunate.1520    Senator Markey. And again, that is why I am going to be1521working very hard to explain to my colleagues in Washington.1522For example, it is West Virginia where Form Energy is building1523their manufacturing capacity. That is the future. Those are1524workers who can move into a brand-new industry, not just a job1525but a career, you know, manufacturing.1526    And by the way, Form Energy, also a Greentown firm, you1527keep hearing about lithium-ion and do we have enough lithium-1528ion here in the United States. Well, what they did,1529brilliantly, over at Form Energy, was they figured out how to1530use iron and oxygen, in other words, two of the most common1531elements, to be able to produce this incredible, utility-scale1532battery technology, which is being manufactured in West1533Virginia.1534    So 80 percent of all of the jobs created in the climate1535bill are in red states. They are the ones manufacturing the1536batteries. They are the ones manufacturing the solar panels.1537They are the ones manufacturing these new vehicles,1538disproportionately.1539    And you have installation jobs, though, and there are way1540more jobs in installation than there are in even the1541manufacture. And that is where we are. We innovate, we come up1542with those innovation jobs. That is Greentown. And there are a1543lot of jobs that we get from the innovation. There are many1544more jobs that are being created out of the bill down in the1545red states and the purple states. And, on top of that, once1546they manufacture it we can then hire electricians. We can hire1547roofers to go up and do the work. And we need to train a whole1548new generation of young people to go into doing that. That is1549the whole system. It is inventors and investors. It is1550professors and producers. We provide part of it; other states1551provide part of it. And when you put it all together it is1552called future economy.1553    And again, I am going to keep coming back to the same thing1554is true for biotech. It is absolutely essential to job creation1555in the future, but also solving the problems of the diseases1556that have afflicted humankind forever, or climate change, which1557is a cumulative problem over generations, that also needs a1558technological solution. But it is going to require jobs to be1559created in order to solve those problems.1560    So what I would like to do with this incredible panel--has1561this been a great panel? Can we give them applause for the1562incredible job that they have done?1563    [Applause.]15641565    Senator Markey. So what I would like to do is give each one1566of you 1 minute to tell everyone who is watching across the1567country what it is you want them to remember from this hearing.1568What is most important for them to keep in their minds over1569these next several months, as we are talking about tariffs,1570talking about changes in tax policy, and what the implications1571can be.1572    And maybe we will go in reverse order of the opening1573statement, and if you wouldn't mind, Josh, we will begin with1574you.1575    Mr. Aviv. Absolutely. So just want to say thank you to1576everyone for coming out, and thank you, Mr. Markey, for1577allowing us to present here today.1578    I will keep mine short and sweet. Investment in clean tech,1579investment in the clean energy economy is an investment in job1580growth. It is an investment in the economy. It is an investment1581in economic growth, not only here in Massachusetts but across1582the United States. And so I think as we continue the1583conversation around electric vehicles, as we continue the1584conversation around clean tech, as we continue the conversation1585around biotech, when we think about those industries and we1586think about those particular topics, at the end of the day an1587investment in those areas is an investment in jobs. It is an1588investment in growing our economy. And if you like jobs, if you1589want to grow jobs here in the commonwealth, we should continue1590to invest in those areas.1591    At SparkCharge we are proud that we are here. We are based1592in Somerville, Massachusetts. We plan on staying in Somerville,1593Massachusetts. We plan on continuing to grow here in the state1594of Massachusetts, and continue to help with innovative ways to1595grow the electric vehicle industry at a faster pace across the1596United States.1597    Thank you so much for listening to what we have to say, and1598we are excited to work with everybody as we continue to push1599this industry forward.1600    Senator Markey. Thank you. Dr. Francis.1601    Ms. Francis. Yes. Thank you again for the opportunity to1602share why post-secondary education matters. I would hope that1603the people who are listening can understand that investment in1604training and education beyond high school remains important and1605that policy impacts people. I hope that people resist the urge1606to think that none of this matters and to be overwhelmed by the1607pace of change, and to really think about the fact that a1608mission like ours, which is to deliver transformative technical1609and trade education that leads to economic advancement requires1610a thriving economy in order to work, and that small businesses1611are where 80 percent of our students find their jobs.1612    So anything that threatens small business, any policies1613that threaten education sector really threatens people. So that1614would be my last message. Thank you for the opportunity.1615    Senator Markey. And thank you, Doctor, and again, my1616father, he could do things easily that I couldn't even imagine1617to do, as a boy or even today. It is a skill set.1618    Ms. Francis. It is.1619    Senator Markey. It is a gift. People have this1620technological ability go to in and see a problem, and to solve1621it, and that is what16221623you are doing every day here, giving young people the ability1624to go and do that, and then get a high-paid job.1625    Ms. Francis. Absolutely.1626    Senator Markey. So we thank you for that. Mr. d'Arbeloff.1627    Mr. d'Arbeloff. Thank you, Senator. I am going to be1628ambitious and a little wonky with my final minutes.1629    Unfortunately, we are in an age of extreme whether due to1630climate change, and I think the solar small businesses that are1631members of our organization are a critical component of helping1632us literally weather the storms ahead. I think that the notion1633of having solar on your house or small business, in conjunction1634with storage, allows you to obtain a level of resiliency which1635is really, really important.1636    I would also say that lots of folks have accused the solar1637industry of being subsidized, to the disadvantage of other rate1638payers who don't go solar. And I want to point out that solar1639plays a critical role in actually lowering rates for all rate1640payers. The way it works--and this is wonky--at what is called1641ISO New England, that manages our grid, if a number of1642different generators all bid in their source of energy, the1643last generator in, the highest rate sets the price for all1644generators. If you can knock out the peaker plants, if you can1645knock out----1646    Senator Markey. If you can knock out----1647    Mr. d'Arbeloff. If we are all generators, and Senator, by1648some strange turn of fate you are a natural gas peaker plant,1649charging----1650    Senator Markey. What do you mean by peaker? What do you1651mean by peaker?1652    Mr. d'Arbeloff. Peaker plant says when the grid is peaking,1653when the grid is at or near capacity----1654    Senator Markey. You mean, when it is a 100-degree day out.1655    Mr. d'Arbeloff. Exactly.1656    Senator Markey. Okay, yeah.1657    Mr. d'Arbeloff. And the grid needs more generators, there1658are power plants that are designed to run for 20 hours a year1659and get paid very handsomely for it. If you can say, hey,1660peaker plant----1661    Senator Markey. Meaning that it is only going to be 1001662degrees for 20 days a year, but you have got to pay the highest1663single price just to keep it going, and it happens all year1664long. So what happens under our new regime?1665    Mr. d'Arbeloff. If there is a large installed base of1666solar, and that installed base of solar grows and grows and1667grows, and what it means is Senator Markey's natural gas peaker1668plant is no longer necessary, we can bid him goodbye. His 251669cent per kilowatt energy is no longer necessary----1670    Senator Markey. And how many----1671    Mr. d'Arbeloff [continuing]. In at 16 cents.1672    Senator Markey. 16 cents.1673    Mr. d'Arbeloff. And we just saved 9 cents per kilowatt hour1674for every rate payer in the region. And that is just a small1675example and the type of wonky stuff that never gets publicized,1676and it is critical to how clean energy is really going to be a1677wonderful influence and a critical cog in how we manage our1678civilization, moving forward.16791680    Senator Markey. Thank you. Dr. Reichert.1681    Ms. Reichert. Well, thank you for inviting me and my1682colleagues here to testify. I think this has been a very1683important conversation, and thank you for giving me the chance1684to take it home.1685    I want to say to the audience that this is really about1686communities. This is about people. This is about jobs and1687livelihoods. It is about the uncertainty that exists now at the1688Federal policy level, creating uncertainty in the lives of1689students who are going to need a job and not sure if their1690training matches up with what jobs are going to be available.1691It is uncertainty in the future of small businesses who might1692have made investments that now are in question. And it is1693uncertainty in everyone who has bills to pay, if you are a1694clean energy worker and you don't know that your job is going1695to continue. These are real impacts on real people's lives.1696    You know, you talked about installation jobs in other parts1697of the country, and that is absolutely true. But there are1698clean energy installation, maintenance, and construction jobs.1699That is actually one of the top three sets of jobs that exists1700in the Massachusetts clean energy sector, as well.1701    Senator Markey. Can you say that again?1702    Ms. Reichert. One of the top three parts of the clean1703energy jobs in Massachusetts are installation, maintenance, and1704construction jobs.1705    So these are local jobs. These are jobs that are paying the1706bills for real people who are living here, working here every1707day, and depending on the future of clean energy in1708Massachusetts and the entire country.1709    Senator Markey. Thank you. So I think Dr. Reichert has put1710her finger on it. You can't outsource a job where someone has1711to get up on the roof and do that work. You can't outsource a1712job where someone has to figure out how to install the charging1713station in somebody's garage or somebody's business. That has1714to happen right here, with American workers, trained here at1715Franklin Cummings. Yes, we have to do that right here. The1716Chinese can't do it for us. It requires American workers to do1717it.1718    But we need the technologies to be installed. We need the1719workers to have a place to go to be hired, and we have people1720here who want to hire them. They are ready to go. They are1721ready to employ a whole new generation of workers.1722    And so I think what we heard today was that President1723Trump's tariff policies are a real threat to especially the1724small businesses in the clean energy sector, but to the clean1725energy sector, in general. No question about it.1726    A repeal of tax incentives would also be an incredible1727threat to this burgeoning industry, creating jobs on a massive1728basis. The numbers, since 2022, when the IRA, the largest1729climate bill in history, passed, is that it has already created1730400,000 new jobs in America and $400 billion worth of private1731sector investment. That is just in 2 1/2 years. So it is1732working.1733    But it is even more than that, even more than the tariffs.1734It is even more than the attempt to repeal the tax breaks,1735which again, is counterintuitive if you are in the red states,1736where 80 percent of the new jobs have been created. That really1737doesn't make any economic sense that you have a future, and as1738Dr. Reichert said at17391740the beginning, for an industry that is going to continue. But1741we will just get a smaller percentage of it as each year goes1742by.1743    But it is more than that. It is also a direct attack upon1744that sector which is already working, which is the offshore1745wind industry. So right off our coastline we have the same1746winds that moved the Pilgrims towards our shores, that were1747used by the whaling industry to create the first energy1748industry, whale oil. But now that same wind can produce1749electricity that we plug into, Barnstable, or Fall River, or1750Salem, and fuel our homes and fuel our industries right now.1751    Donald Trump has announced that he is going to try to end1752the entire offshore wind industry. And why would he do1753something like that when Vineyard Wind is within months of1754opening up 800 megawatts of electricity to come right into the1755Massachusetts economy, essentially replacing the Pilgrim1756Nuclear Power Plant. And it is pretty clear because otherwise1757we would have to have more natural gas, natural gas that would1758be coming in from fossil fuel states, when we would be able to1759use our own indigenous power.1760    So Donald Trump not only is now talking about the tariffs1761and the removal of the tax breaks, but also a direct attack1762through his Department of Interior and Energy on an industry1763which was going to produce 3,000, or 4,000, or 5,000, or 6,0001764new megawatts of electricity which would just come in from1765offshore.1766    And it is all for the benefit of the incumbent industries,1767because they are afraid of the new industries that can replace1768them. And especially for places like New England, where God1769didn't bless us with any oil or gas or coal. But now we can use1770our own indigenous energy resources, and that is a threat to1771the natural gas industry, in the same way that Josh's1772technology is a threat to the oil industry, and putting1773gasoline into the tanks of the vehicles which we drive forever.1774We wouldn't have to do that.1775    So this is an important defining moment in our country's1776history, whether it be biotech or clean tech. We have a clear1777vision for where the next generation of young people, young1778people who are leading us, want to go, want to take us, the1779industries where they want to work.1780    I can't thank our witnesses enough. And I am also going to1781be releasing today a report that I have asked my great staff to1782put together, and the title of the report is, ``Pulling the1783Plug: How Trump's Attacks on Clean Energy Could Turn Out the1784Lights for Small Business.'' And I am going to be releasing1785this report today, as the Ranking Member of the Small Business1786Committee, and it will go on here in some detail about what the1787impacts will be of the Trump policies.1788    So again, with that I can't thank our incredible panel1789enough for your expert testimony today, and we thank anyone who1790is here for their participation.1791    The record will be open for 2 weeks for anyone who would1792like to submit any comments or questions to the panel. We thank1793all of you for participating, and with that this hearing is1794adjourned. Thank you all so much.1795    [Whereupon, at 11:49 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]17961797[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]17981799                           [all]