On July 1, the U.S. Senate approved a reconciliation budget bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives for final approval. This version of the bill removes a proposed tax on solar and wind and includes incentives for clean firm technologies like geothermal and advanced nuclear. However, it also quickly phases out clean energy tax credits that are crucial for lowering costs for families and creating family-sustaining careers.

In response to the bill’s passage in the Senate, EEN President & CEO Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman released the following statement:

“We appreciate the work of Majority Leader Thune and many Senate Republicans for setting a strong foundation for the future of clean firm technology, like geothermal and advanced nuclear, that will be needed to power our homes and economy with low-emission energy in the decades to come. We especially thank Senators Ernst, Grassley, Murkowski, Curtis, and others for their courageous leadership preventing an onerous tax on wind and solar power from becoming reality and tempering the abrupt phase-out of critical tax provisions for homegrown American renewable energy. Solar and wind are the most readily deployable energy sources for meeting the growing energy demand and keeping electricity bills low.

“Even with the Senate bill’s improvements over the House-passed version, the clampdown on renewable energy incentives risks more blackouts, higher energy prices for families and businesses across the country, and the stalling out of the nascent revitalization of American communities as planned clean energy and manufacturing projects are cancelled. In a time when we need to unleash clean abundant energy now, we encourage the House of Representatives to stand up for a more family- and business-friendly phase out of these critical clean energy tax incentives.”