Brunswick Beacon, 12.26.24
Residents of 500 Brunswick County homes will be able to replace lead-contaminated water pipes and fixtures thanks to $20 million just awarded from the EPA’s largest environmental investment in US history.
The funds come from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and will help well-users and municipality and utility customers in Supply, Ash, and Longwood reduce toxic lead contamination by replacing lead pipes and lead-contaminated fixtures.
Lead contamination severely harms neurological, reproductive, and cardiovascular systems. It typically contaminates drinking water through corrosion from old lead pipe installations. While the federal Safe Drinking Water Act requires public utilities to replace lead pipes, it does not regulate private wells. The IRA award helps rural communities with private wells get the lead out.
The IRA passed without a single Republican vote! Sen. Tillis voted “NO,” as did then-representative (now senator) Budd and Rep. Rouzer. And, despite lead’s deadly effects, House Republicans have since voted to repeal all or part of the IRA at least 42 times.
During his campaign, Trump called the IRA the “Green New Scam,” promised to “terminate” it and “rescind all unspent funds.” However, because 58% of IRA’s green-energy jobs are being created in Republican-voting districts, including Brunswick County, 18 Republican representatives wrote to House Speaker Johnson asking him to rethink killing the IRA.
“We hear from industry and our constituents who fear the energy tax regime will once again be turned on its head due to Republican repeal efforts,” wrote the Republican representatives. “Prematurely repealing energy tax credits, particularly those which were used to justify investments that already broke ground, would undermine private investments and stop development that is already ongoing. A full repeal would create a worst-case scenario.”
Sadly, no NC Republicans signed the letter! Call or write Rep. Rouzer, Sen. Tillis and Sen. Budd. Demand that they protect Brunswick County’s drinking water by stopping Trump and Republicans from repealing the IRA.
Michael Rush
Leland
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