Republicans Push to Restore Clean Energy Tax Credits

When tax credits for clean energy were slashed last year, over $34 billion in solar, wind, and hydrogen projects got canceled. Now a group of Republican lawmakers is working to bring those jobs and investments back.

Four House Republicans introduced the American Energy Dominance Act on Thursday to restore tax credits that were cut by earlier legislation. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Max Miller and Mike Carey of Ohio, and Mike Lawler of New York are leading the effort.

The bill would reverse the accelerated deadlines placed on key tax credits that helped renewable energy companies plan long-term projects. It covers the 45Y production tax credit and 48E investment tax credit for wind and solar, plus the 45V credit for clean hydrogen.

The lawmakers developed the legislation in direct partnership with North America's Building Trades Unions, showing rare common ground between Republicans and labor groups. The bill would also permanently restore the Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings credit, which was set to expire in June 2026.

"For capital-intensive sectors, a shortened policy horizon does more than disrupt planning," Fitzpatrick's office said in a release. When major projects get delayed or canceled, American workers, employers, and families all suffer through slower growth and tighter energy supply.

The canceled investments in 2025 outnumbered new clean energy projects three to one, according to clean energy business group E2. Executive Director Bob Keefe called the new legislation a "modest but smart step back in the right direction."

The Bright Side

While political analysts say the bill faces an uphill battle in the current Congress, it signals growing recognition that stable tax policy helps American businesses compete. The bipartisan coalition behind the effort includes labor unions, clean energy companies, and lawmakers from both parties who represent manufacturing districts.

If Democrats gain control of either chamber in the 2026 elections, similar measures could gain traction. Democratic lawmakers already introduced their own clean electricity bill in March with overlapping goals.

The legislation shows that supporting American energy jobs and manufacturing can transcend party lines when communities see projects getting canceled in their backyards.