The U.S. Senate has advanced a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill with bipartisan support. The sweeping Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act proposes a five-year spending program that could spur growth in industries building climate resilience and support the creation of “green” jobs in the process.
The proposal, as it stands
The proposed infrastructure spending would be allocated over five years. Green-themed proposals that could benefit from an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing standpoint include:
- Upgrading the electric power grid
- Improving the water distribution infrastructure
- Increasing the number of electric vehicle charging stations
- Funding for climate change mitigation
The state of play in Congress
The bill will advance to the House where the timing of a final vote is unclear. Action may be tied to a $3.5 trillion spending package being proposed by Democrats, which will include additional provisions for climate change and infrastructure.
Putnam Sustainable Leaders ETF (PLDR)
Seeks companies that are established leaders in financially material sustainability issues such as reductions in carbon or water intensity and improvements in workplace equality and diversity.
Industries poised to benefit
The bill is a potential boon to a number of industries. Companies involved in the manufacturing of electric vehicles could see an influx of investors, for example. So, too, might companies in their supply chains, such as those that produce lithium-ion batteries.
Utilities are another possible beneficiary, given the proposed funding to upgrade the electric power grid. Non-fossil fuel energy producers could be key winners as well: The program would boost many wind, solar, and nuclear power companies.
The face of American industry could change as a result: The jobs of the future would become the jobs of today. From renewable energy to sectors that help make buildings more efficient, numerous areas stand to increase employment.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is projected to create some 660,000 jobs, according to Moody’s Analytics. The projects could also boost the economy in rural areas, where it has been difficult for many to find work.
How the proposal impacts sustainable investing
Investors with an ESG mindset will want to take note of the infrastructure plan. The legislation could benefit the stocks of companies that stand ready to help the United States move away from a carbon-based economy to one that is more resilient to the effects of climate change.
Not every green stock will prosper, but the plan, if approved, would mean a major increase in demand for green products and services. We see the green shift as an emerging trend with both a short-term upside and a long way to run.
Active management: How Putnam brings the benefits of the bill to life
Active management can play an especially pivotal role for investors in this instance. It provides an alternative to simply taking what headline indexes have to offer. Active managers have the expertise to take advantage of a world in transition by employing a broad, thematic approach while also looking at possible risks.
Companies will still need to execute, and some will do better than others. Active managers can analyze how infrastructure spending can add to the earnings growth potential of companies that are leaders in sustainability or creating solutions. In the case of the infrastructure bill, that means investing in exciting companies creating innovations to combat climate change. These are businesses that can grow and change the world at the same time.
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