Clean energy is under attack even where it’s booming

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Federal tax credits that have fueled the U.S. clean energy boom are under threat, as congressional Republicans propose eliminating key incentives for wind, solar, and clean manufacturing
• At the same time, states like Texas and Arizona — despite hosting major renewable projects — are moving to introduce stricter permitting and regulatory barriers
• The dual pressure from Washington and state legislatures could slow the sector’s growth even where it has been most successful

🔭 The context: The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 introduced long-term tax credits that helped drive record investment in clean electricity across the U.S.
• These subsidies have supported billions in private sector capital and job creation, especially in conservative states with abundant wind and solar resources
• However, political pushback is growing, with opponents citing fiscal concerns, grid reliability, and ideological resistance to federal climate policy

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Curtailing these tax credits could jeopardize national emissions targets and slow the transition from fossil fuels
• The U.S. is currently on track for significant decarbonization gains due in part to these incentives
• Rolling them back risks undermining momentum in clean energy deployment and climate resilience — particularly in regions where policy headwinds are now emerging despite favorable market conditions

⏭️ What's next: The proposed rollback faces a divided Congress and potential White House veto, but even stalled legislation can create uncertainty, delaying investment decisions and raising financing costs
• At the state level, upcoming legislative sessions in Arizona and Texas will be closely watched for regulatory changes that could reshape local project pipelines
• The industry is expected to ramp up lobbying efforts to defend the IRA’s clean energy provisions

💬 One quote: “This is a fight not just in Washington, but in the very states where clean energy is working — and growing fast,” — a senior executive at a major solar developer

📈 One stat: Texas leads the U.S. in utility-scale solar development, with more than 22 GW of capacity installed — yet its legislature is currently considering new siting and permitting restrictions

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of  NextEra Energy and its peers First Solar, and Ørsted

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