The Jones Act, passed in 1920, is a federal law mandating that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried on ships that are U.S.-built, owned, and crewed. While this law was originally intended to protect the domestic maritime industry and ensure national security, it has become a significant barrier to a number of projects.

The Jones Act imposes restrictions that make shipping between U.S. ports more costly and less efficient. This increases transportation costs for many renewable energy projects, including those that require the movement of large-scale equipment -- like wind turbines, solar panels, and other materials crucial for developing green infrastructure.

More importantly, the Act prohibits the use of foreign-built ships, which are often more environmentally friendly than their U.S.-built counterparts. By restricting access to these vessels, the Jones Act slows down the deployment of offshore wind farms and other green energy projects, delaying our transition to a clean energy future. Offshore wind projects in particular face significant logistical challenges due to the lack of appropriate vessels in the U.S. fleet, making it harder to scale up renewable energy infrastructure.

Repealing the Jones Act would accelerate the development of crucial renewable energy infrastructure and reduce carbon emissions by enabling the use of more energy-efficient vessels. This is a necessary step to facilitate climate action and drive the U.S. toward a more sustainable future.