House-Senate Megabill Discussions Threaten 794 US Clean Energy Projects

House and Senate Republicans are negotiating the extent to which they will roll back Biden-era clean energy tax credits in a megabill, with a July 4 deadline looming. The House bill, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s pledge, proposes aggressively sunsetting key tax incentives by requiring clean energy projects to begin construction within 60 days of enactment and commence operation by 2028, threatening hundreds of wind, solar, and battery storage projects—many in Republican districts—that have yet to start construction. Senate Republicans offer a less severe approach, potentially preserving more credits, but projects still face risk if they cannot meet tight deadlines. The outcome will significantly influence America's clean energy capacity growth, which constitutes the majority of new power expected in the next five years, impacting jobs, climate goals, and power demands from emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Clean energy advocates are lobbying for softer Senate provisions, but face opposition from budget hawks focused on deficit reduction and hardline supporters of Trump's climate policy reversals. The legislative battle highlights tensions within the GOP between sustaining clean energy investments and fulfilling campaign promises to dismantle Biden’s climate initiatives.