No. 118: Goodbye, Rebates

Who doesn't love a good rebate? The Inflation Reduction Act helped fund a lot of them, and one of the most popular remains the electric vehicle tax break. It can be worth up to $7,500 and has helped EVs compete with internal combustion engine vehicles, especially early in the EV transition. It's probably going to go away in the next presidential administration, and you might be surprised to find out who is quietly supporting its retirement.

I'm very excited about the featured job this week, which helps tackle food waste and climate change in equal measure, at a B Corp on a growth trajectory. Speaking of growth trajectories, we're revisiting a couple of great startup job sources to catch your next rocket ship to social impact. Blasting off in 3...2...1...

~ Greg

What we're reading

There's a good chance that the $7,500 electric vehicle credit could be going away as part of a new Trump tax plan. That's not surprising. What is surprising, however, is that Tesla is privately supporting the plan to do so. (Reuters)

• The tax credit was designed to aid the EV transition; it helps new electric vehicle models gain initial traction provided they meet certain requirements.
  • Those requirements have gotten more flexible recently. It used to be that once an automaker had sold 200,000 vehicles, the tax credit went away. The Biden administration removed that cap, meaning Tesla vehicles regained access to the tax credit.
  • The supply chain must meet key requirements as well, like sourcing the majority of rare earth metals and battery components from within the United States.
• Earlier this year, Elon Musk noted in an earnings call that he didn't think that losing the tax credit would impact Tesla that much. He perceived it to be more of an impact on Tesla's competitors.
  • Against that backdrop, it's easier to understand why Tesla might want the credit to go away.
  • I'm keen to see if the supply chain is a factor as well. If you wanted to source your materials and components from outside the U.S. to reduce costs, you'd lose eligibility for the tax credit and make your vehicle less competitive in the market. Eliminating the tax credit for your competitors could put you back on equal footing.
• Personally, I don't think EVs are going anywhere anytime soon. There's too much momentum: supply chains have been redesigned, automakers have set sustainability commitments, and consumer interest continues to mature.
  • It's just disappointing to see an industry leader – arguably the O.G. – abandoning its core mission for profit. I guess that's why these bumper stickers are proving popular these days.

Job of the week

I love a good food waste role because you get to tackle food systems, sustainability, and climate impact all in one job. One of the leaders in the space is a B Corp called Leanpath, and they have a great remote gig for a super salesperson.

They're looking for a Vice President of Global Sales who will help scale the business through its growth stage. You'd report directly to the CEO, so you'd have significant authority over the sales function – perfect if you are the kind of person who loves strategic thinking and executing on a vision of your own making. As I mentioned before, this role can be remote anywhere in the U.S., but if you happen to live in the Portland, OR metro area, you can also work from Beaverton.

Community roundup

• Last week, we talked about how COP29 had gotten off to a controversial start: multiple heads of state were skipping out, and the President of Azerbaijan, the host country, had made glowing remarks about oil and gas production. So I was fascinated by coverage this week of an 'anti-COP' taking place in Oaxaca, Mexico more formally known as the Global Meeting for Climate and Life. (Grist)
  • Now I don't know if this conference specifically will surpass the COP – it's only 200 people, after all – but it does make me wonder if an alternative forum will surface to compete with the COPs after years of discouraging progress.
• Melanins, which are responsible for darker hues in nature, are being affected by rising temperatures – and some animals' colors are changing as a result. (Scientific American)
• The American Petroleum Institute has shared its wishlist for the new presidential administration, including rolling back EPA rules on the tailpipe emissions we talked about in No. 101 and eliminating the methane emissions fee that targets leaks during oil and gas production. (Inside Climate News)
• Kathy Hochul, the Governor of New York, has revived a congestion pricing program that charges drivers commuting to Manhattan and uses those fees to improve mass transit. She had deferred it earlier this year due to political pressure from both sides of the aisle. (NYT)
• SpaceX and Amazon are among a host of companies challenging the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board. If successful, these cases could jeopardize collective action – particularly if they find their way to the Supreme Court. (NPR)

Hot job opportunities

• People Business Partner - Resilience – Arcadis – Highlands Ranch, CO
• Product Owner, Solar – Anza – Oakland, CA
• Communications Manager – Rivian – Palo Alto, CA or Plymouth, MI
• Sustainable & Healthy Buildings Analyst – Brightworks Sustainability – Portland, OR or Los Angeles, CA
• Director of Quality – Pure Synergy – Moab, UT
• Office Manager & Executive Assistant – Homeward – San Mateo, CA
• Senior Director of Project Development – New Leaf Energy – New York, NY
• Implementation Manager – Beable – Baton Rouge or Lafayette, LA
• Product Manager, Sandbox – Second Front – Remote
• Marketing Associate, CRM – Grove Collaborative – Remote

Resource of the week

This week, I'm turning to a tried and true method of finding social impact jobs at smaller companies on a growth trajectory. If you've been reading the newsletter for a while, you know I like to find emerging social enterprises based on where impact investors are placing their bets. Impact investors, in case you're unfamiliar, are specifically looking to invest in companies that promise a financial return and social impact.

A few weeks ago, I explained how to find venture capital firms aligned to your personal mission. This week, I'm pointing you back to Unreasonable and City Light as two of my favorites. Unreasonable maintains a job board for its portfolio companies around the world, making it a frequent stop when I'm looking for new opportunities.

Test your knowledge

Last week, I asked you which forest is considered the "lungs of the Earth" for its outsize impact on our atmosphere. We're talking about the Amazon Rainforest of course, which is why deforestation and Brazil's environmental policy are crucial not just to the country but to the world as a whole.

For this week, I'm turning to one of the most recognizable symbols of social impact: the ribbon. Chances are you've seen or wore one at some point in your life, and it seems like there's a ribbon for just about any cause you can think of. Any chance you recognize this one?

What color ribbon denotes mental health awareness?

Email me your guess, and I'll send one lucky winner a couple of One Work stickers!

I went to REI for the first time in years trying to find hiking pants for the cooler weather. I am determined to hit the trails no matter how cold and wet it gets. You can find me on LinkedIn and Threads.