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Republican Budget Bill Could Cost Thousands of Clean Energy Jobs, Advocates Warn
Joe Napsha
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Clean energy advocates gathered in front of the Pittsburgh City-County Building on Wednesday to protest a Republican budget proposal that threatens to eliminate the 30% tax credit for solar energy projects. They warn that this move could lead to job losses for approximately 100,000 Pennsylvanians.
“Why would Congress want to shut us down? The federal legislation has created more than 100,000 family-sustaining jobs in Pennsylvania,” stated Sharon Pillar, executive director of the Pennsylvania Solar Center. She addressed a crowd of over 40 people, emphasizing that the need for clean energy tax credits should remain nonpartisan. “We need to add more energy to the grid. These are not red or blue electrons being put onto the grid,” she added, highlighting the importance of clean energy projects beyond political affiliations.
The proposed budget reconciliation bill, which recently passed in the Republican-controlled House and is currently under consideration in the Senate, aims to eliminate about 20 clean energy tax credits established by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This act, passed under President Biden, included credits for solar projects, clean vehicles, home energy improvements, and energy-efficient commercial buildings, among others. These tax credits were set to expire in 2032.
The 30% investment tax credit for solar energy has been vital for the growth of solar projects, according to Joseph Morinville, president of EIS Solar in Pittsburgh. He stated that such developments would not have been possible without this credit. “Thousands of solar power jobs will be immediately erased. My 50 employees will become casualties of the Big Beautiful Bill,” he lamented, referencing the name given to the budget proposal by its Republican supporters.
The need to preserve these tax credits is underscored by the fact that 158,550 Pennsylvanians claimed more than $260 million in tax credits on their 2023 tax returns for solar installations and other energy efficiency improvements. Clean energy investment soared to approximately $277 million last year, noted Janeen Zappa, executive director of the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance, which represents around 70 businesses in the sector. “We need more electric power, not less. These tax credits help drive investment,” Zappa asserted.
During the rally, attendees delivered letters to the Pittsburgh offices of Pennsylvania senators John Fetterman (Democrat) and David McCormick (Republican), urging them to support the preservation of federal energy tax credits. Fetterman has publicly opposed the Republican budget bill, while McCormick’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon, and the Norwin School District. He has been with the Trib since the early 1980s and can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/republican-budget-proposal-threatens-thousands-of-clean-energy-jobs-and-investments-in-pennsylvania/
