• The initiative would retrofit one million federally owned housing units.
• The units would receive solar panels and would use renewable energy, reducing cost by $613m.
• Move would create nearly 250,000 union jobs.

Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled legislation on Thursday which outlines $180 billion of spending over 10 years to cut carbon dioxide emissions from public housing throughout the country.

To accomplish the goals set out in the legislation, almost 250,000 union jobs would be created. Included is a “Buy America” requirement for construction. The legislation could also reduce public housing costs by $97 million per year and cut costs from energy consumption by $613 million.

“But let us be clear: as Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez understands, the Green New Deal is not just about climate change,” Sanders said in a statement. “It is an economic plan to create millions of good-paying jobs, strengthen our infrastructure, and invest in our country’s frontline and vulnerable communities.”

The amount of carbon emission reduction laid out in the plan would be equal to taking 1.2 million cars off the road for a 10 year period, the statement added. About 40% of total U.S. energy consumption originates from residential and commercial buildings.

The legislation is co-sponsored by fellow Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. This is the latest Green New Deal legislation to be rolled out by the lawmakers.

Categories: Government, Labor, Politics

Tags: alexandria ocasio-cortez, AOC, Bernie Sanders, democrats, Elizabeth Warren, featured, fiscal policy, Government, green new deal, public housing, sustainability