Washington, D.C. – Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) and Lynn Abramson, President of the Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) provided the following statements in response to final Congressional passage of the budget reconciliation bill, which alters timelines and requirements for many federal energy tax credits.

“Compared to earlier proposals, the final legislation provides a more workable transition for some energy businesses currently utilizing federal energy tax credits,” said BCSE President Lisa Jacobson. “However, it imposes many rapid changes to various energy credits that will cause uncertainty and increase energy costs. These provisions include consumer credits for energy efficiency and clean energy that help lower energy costs for families and businesses, make the grid more resilient, protect good American jobs, and provide certainty for vital investments in the energy sector.

“As our country faces skyrocketing energy demand, we need every electron from a broad portfolio of energy sources to keep the lights on for homes and businesses,” Jacobson added. “Instead of encouraging industry growth, this legislation holds American energy businesses back. As we move forward, the data is clear: deployment of a broad portfolio of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies is hard-wired into the U.S. economy. Our coalition will continue to advocate for policies that support a diverse set of energy options in the United States and ensure access to affordable, secure, reliable, and clean energy solutions.”

“We are grateful to the many bipartisan champions who rallied to defend the energy tax credits as the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ proceeded through consideration these past few months,” said CEBN President Lynn Abramson. “While their efforts prevented an even more detrimental outcome, taken as a whole, this bill will be a major step backwards on energy security, prices, and jobs in communities across the country.

“The final legislation leaves some energy industries relatively unscathed, but rapidly eliminates credits for efficiency, residential solar, and electric vehicles with no room for businesses to pivot – and abruptly phases out wind and solar at a time of rising energy demand,” Abramson added. “We appreciate one particularly bright spot: the full and permanent restoration of the R&D tax deduction with retroactive tax relief for small businesses.”