031424ira_audio

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about the implementation of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in rural America. What programs are uniquely designed for and supportive of rural communities? What types of projects are making a difference in people's lives? What are the remaining barriers preventing small and rural communities, institutions, and companies from accessing IIJA and IRA support? Panelists addressed these questions and shared the latest updates on U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, and other agency programs that provide for rural communities. They outlined how these laws directly help rural communities—from farms and ranches to rural town centers. Using specific examples from around the country, panelists also discussed key topics from a rural perspective, including electricity provision, broadband access, drinking water availability, and pollution reduction.