Trump and Vance target Biden's environmental laws. Some Republicans prefer not to.

In almost every speech, J.D. Vance, the Republican candidate for U.S. vice president, emphasizes that Americans are being deceived by the Democrats' focus on the low-carbon economy and their excessive spending on what Vance refers to as "green scams."

"We require a leader ... who denounces Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's green new scheme and works to revive our esteemed American factories," he passionately stated during his nomination speech at the Republican National Convention in July, eliciting enthusiastic applause.

Vance describes the Democrats' environmental emphasis as "insane."

In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal this week, he stated that Kamala Harris prioritizes climate change over inflation.

Vance has also condemned Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, for endorsing "garbage energy" despite promising his state would rely solely on wind, solar, and other clean energy sources by 2040.

On the other hand, Vance and GOP nominee Donald Trump fully support the growth of oil and gas extraction.

Harness American energy! Vance has stated, "Drill, baby, drill."

Should Trump win back the presidency, he has pledged to revoke the Inflation Reduction Act, a crucial part of Biden's presidency that aimed to allocate over a trillion dollars to green energy initiatives and incentives in conjunction with various bills. Approximately one-third of the funds will be allocated for tax incentives for activities such as clean energy production, electric car manufacturing, and home improvements.

Trump and Vance label climate spending as a divisive issue in the election, dismissing them as worthless green new scam ideas that will impact jobs and Americans' finances.

That is striking a chord with numerous voters in Butler County, Ohio - Vance's hometown.

I believe it is a greedy move by the politicians. Jack Ellis, the owner of an auto body shop, expressed at a summer music festival in Butler County that certain businesses are capitalizing on climate change for profit. "You know, it's extracting funds from us." We are individuals who pay taxes.

For his initial campaign visit as the vice-presidential nominee, Vance decided to go to his hometown of Middletown, a city with around 50,000 residents that heavily relies on the steel industry for its continued existence.

He stated, "Middletown, I have affection for you ... and I will always remember my roots." He cautioned that the Democrats' climate agenda also puts good factory jobs in danger.

I simply want to address Middletown and many overlooked communities throughout our nation ... they believe we are behind the times... He mentioned that they believe we lack knowledge in performing tasks. "This is where items are manufactured, this is the origin of America's exceptionalism."

However, the Trump-Vance storyline poses a risk as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other Biden-era legislation are expected to generate hundreds of thousands of job opportunities, and a significant portion of the environmentally-friendly investments will benefit Republican districts - such as the steel plant in Middletown.

Significant investment in reducing carbon emissions.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm mentioned that 33 projects, most of which are located in Republican counties, will receive a total of $6 billion in federal funding through the IRA and a federal infrastructure law.

Describing it as "the biggest individual investment in reducing industrial carbon emissions in US history," she announced that these initiatives "will reduce our [CO2] emissions by 14 million metric tons annually."

Over 500 million dollars was allocated to upgrade the Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works steel plant, allowing it to decommission a high-carbon-emitting blast furnace and install two electric ones instead. The goal is to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions while also improving its competitiveness.

As per the U.S. Energy Department, this procedure is expected to generate 170 fresh job opportunities and 1,200 during construction, while also maintaining the current 2,500 positions at the facility.

Granholm stated that after investing in Middletown, they would explore replicating their success nationwide.

The secretary treasurer of the local Laborers International Union, Billie Bowermaster, expressed that the Cleveland-Cliffs retrofit will bring significant employment opportunities for the county and union members.

At our monthly union meetings, we make an effort to inform them about the source of funds, our allies, and supporters. Bowermaster noted that the Biden-Harris administration accomplished what needed to be done, despite admitting that at least fifty percent of their members support the Republican ticket.

Local resident Jeri Lewis believes that stable industrial jobs are crucial to the identity of Middletown. "It is crucial for our city that we develop the industry locally."

Lewis was undecided about backing Trump in the election, but she is acquainted with the Vance family, and with J.D. as the candidate, she declared she would vote Republican.

Judy Murray, a resident for a long time, is thrilled about assisting Vance in bringing Trump back into power.

"He is a local boy, and I believe he will greatly aid Trump." "He is exactly what we require," Murray, 81, stated as she collected Trump yard signs earlier in the summer, pledging to distribute them in her Middletown community.

Resistance from Republicans

However, Trump is encountering obstacles due to his critiques of climate and infrastructure spending, even within his own party.

According to E2, an environmental research group, there have been 325 new clean energy projects announced nationwide since the adoption of the Inflation Reduction Act two years ago. A large portion of the investment has been distributed among both red and swing states.

The investments in clean energy and tax credits are definitely leading to job creation. A group of 18 Republican legislators wrote a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging future Republican administrations not to completely eliminate all of the climate policies implemented during the Biden era due to their positive impact in Republican counties.

The letter stated that both industry and constituents are concerned that Republican repeal efforts will disrupt the energy tax system. Repealing completely would lead to a situation where we spent billions of taxpayer dollars but got very little in return, creating the worst-case scenario.

Even though some Republican lawmakers support it, environmental and climate advocates fear that Trump's re-election could endanger the future implementation of green investment. As of April, Politico's analysis shows that most of the pledged funds remain uninvested, with less than 17% of direct investments in climate, energy, and infrastructure having been used.

Similar to numerous other agreements, negotiations are ongoing between the Cleveland-Cliffs steel plant project and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Ted Fertik, vice-president of manufacturing and industrial policy at the BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of unions and environmental groups working together to combat climate change, warns that a government aiming to reverse the progress made could hinder further advancements.

He stated that there is a significant amount on the line in this election with a potential for positive progress to be significantly, if not entirely, undone.

The leader of the union is optimistic about the change.

The message that polls consistently reveal is that Americans have limited knowledge about the Inflation Reduction Act and its potential job creation.

Tim Burga, the Ohio AFL-CIO union president, stated that the state has a rich background in both coal mining and steel production. His grandfather himself worked in the coal mines.

He recognized the historical and economic ties to coal and fossil fuels, yet emphasized the need for shifting towards a green energy economy.

Placing employees at the center of that shift is crucial. Burga said there must be a solution that looks after those individuals and the future generations who have dedicated their lives to advancing America's economy.

I believe that the Biden-Harris administration is handling policies, particularly in the energy sector, in a proper manner.

It's a conflict over what lies ahead, and individuals such as 21-year-old first-time voter Cole Miller, are conflicted.

I feel conflicted about it since Democrats support unions and I am a member of a union. He stated that if the Republican Party takes the presidency, anything could happen.

Miller stated that he leans towards Republican beliefs, but sometimes you have to prioritize your livelihood over your beliefs. "It's gooey."