Shift Key with Robinson Meyer A New Theory About Why Biden’s Big Climate Law Failed
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Mar 11, 2026 Alexander Gazmarian, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Michigan who studies the political economy of decarbonization, explains why the Inflation Reduction Act’s local projects rarely translated into political credit. He discusses how governors and companies took credit, how tax credits and state roles obscured federal visibility, and why framing, unions, and local capacity shape political returns.
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Visible Projects Weren't Traced To Biden
- Green investments from the Inflation Reduction Act were visible locally but rarely traced by voters back to the Biden administration.
- Survey of 5,000 people showed proximity increased noticing projects but not attribution; governors were credited far more than Biden.
Companies Spread Credit; Governors Dominate Public Credit
- Companies and governors spread credit widely; companies act diplomatically to maintain relationships across levels of government.
- Data show governors most active in claiming credit while Biden administration officials appeared on roughly half of project statements.
Build Local Organizing To Connect Federal Policy
- Do invest in bottom-up organizational capacity instead of relying solely on top-down messaging to link federal policy to local benefits.
- Local unions, civic leaders, and community organizations are necessary to explain IRA's role and sustain political support.
