Clean power advocates have condemned a reconciliation bill passed by the U.S. Senate, arguing that the legislation will increase energy costs, hinder manufacturing growth, and result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs.
The American Clean Power Association (ACP) described the package as “a step backward for American energy policy.”
“Undermining the fastest-growing sources of electric power will lead to increased energy bills, decreased grid reliability, and the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs,” ACP Chief Executive Jason Grumet said.
While welcoming the avoidance of retroactive tax changes and a surprise hike targeting wind and solar, Grumet criticized the bill’s proposed 12-month phase-out of clean energy tax incentives as “very aggressive.”
“We can’t afford to pick winners and losers when it comes to reliable, American-made energy. We need all of it—and we need it fast,” he added.
Oceantic Network, a coalition representing workers in clean energy manufacturing, also voiced concerns, saying the bill fails to support domestic clean energy production and risks ceding global leadership to China.
Limiting clean energy and manufacturing tax credits only compounds our national energy crisis, slowing development and ceding innovation leadership to China,” Oceantic Chief Executive Liz Burdock said.
She added that “the Senate promised a course-correction but instead accepted a bill that still hampers needed energy generation, depresses job creation, and raises electricity prices.
Both groups urged the U.S. House of Representatives to revise the legislation before its final passage. Oceantic said its members—engineers, welders, mariners and factory workers from 40 states—are “ready to power our country” if policy conditions improve.
