It is bad enough that the inflation producing Inflation Reduction Act ;aka the Green New Steal ; is pumping monopoly money into an unsustainable national debt. Now Clueless Joe is using executive power to force feed the money to a handful of rent seeker crony companies.
The Defense Production Act (DPA) was created during the Korean War to allow the President to prioritize and expedite the production of materials critical for defense purposes during national emergencies .
It was most recently legitimately used when needed during the pandemic to jump start the vaccine program and to get masks and gloves and other supplies . It has been authorized at times under FEMA for disaster response.
The strategery to use the act for climate change was developed in 2020 by enviro-activist group Evergreen Action
Evergreen Action - InfluenceWatch - InfluenceWatch
Now he has classified climate change as a national emergency ;and invoked the power of the act to fast start the production of electric heat pump projects to the tune of $169 million from the Green New Steal .
“Today’s Defense Production Act funds for heat pump manufacturing show that President Biden is treating climate change as the crisis it is,” said
John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation. “These awards will grow domestic manufacturing, create good-paying jobs, and boost American competitiveness in industries of the future.”
“The President is using his wartime emergency powers under the Defense Production Act to turbocharge U.S. manufacturing of clean technologies and strengthen our energy security,” said
President Biden’s National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “This acceleration of electric heat pump manufacturing also shows how President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is advancing American innovation, cutting energy bills for hardworking families, and tackling the climate crisis – a win, win for our economy, our workers, and our planet.”
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $169 Million to Accelerate Electric Heat Pump Manufacturing as Part of Investing in America Agenda | Department of Energy
American Gas Association President and CEO Karen Harbert said in response
“We are deeply disappointed to see the Defense Production Act, which is intended as a vital tool for advancing national security against serious outside threats, being used as an instrument to advance a policy agenda contradictory to our nation’s strong energy position. Increased use of natural gas has been responsible for sixty percent of the electrical grid’s CO2 emissions reductions. This vital tool for emissions reductions and energy system resilience should not be unfairly undermined through misuse of the Defense Production Act.”
AGA responds to President Biden’s use of Defense Production Act powers to fund electric heat pumps - American Gas Association
Projects in 15 sites will create a whopping 1,700 new jobs . 7 of the 9 companies targeted for this steal currently do not manufacture pumps of components in the US yet.
The Energy Dept said that this is not all. Next year Clueless plans on using the power to force feed electric grid components, solar energy, insulation and hydrogen energy components on the market.
Bottom line is that over the years the DPA has been amended to give the President almost dictatorial powers over many segments of the economy. This comes with very limited Congressional oversight . That has to change. The Constitution give Congress the power of the purse.