C-MACC Weekly “CRETER” (Climate etc.)
Is The IRA Inflationary? Some Seem To Think So – We Mostly Agree
- The IRA promotes US investment in poor US states and counties, with limited trained labor, as well as the use of (insufficient) US materials and manufacturing.
- These two factors alone suggest inflationary pressure, especially if projects move quickly to get incentives (e.g., 1/1/25 for power production tax credits).
- The risk of project failure because of underestimated costs, or because the accompanying workforce training has not been factored in correctly is high.
- Higher capital costs may also play a factor unless we can contain inflation, as higher interest rates and fear of economic malaise make investors more cautious.
- Government grants and loan guarantees can help, but agencies are conscious of inflation and unlikely to relax lending standards.
See PDF below for all charts, tables and diagrams