Megabill triggers uncertainty for solar and wind power developers

Developers of solar and wind energy projects have just 12 months to begin construction in order to retain key federal tax credits, following the passage of a new law backed by congressional Republicans and signed by President Trump.

Jeff St. John reports for Canary Media.

In short:

The new law shortens the timeline for solar and wind projects to qualify for federal tax credits, forcing developers to either break ground by July 2026 or risk losing billions in potential investment.
A provision in the final bill gives developers more flexibility than earlier drafts, but industry leaders say the tightened deadline will still halt many early-stage projects and trigger a shortfall in clean energy capacity.
Industry leaders warn of a coming slowdown in new project starts after the 12-month window closes, likely increasing electricity costs and delaying the expansion of low-carbon power sources as U.S. energy demand grows.

Key quote:

“There will still be tons of projects in that 2028 to 2031 window that get killed because visibility into economic viability fails to arrive before development expenses become uncomfortably high.”

— David Riester, founder and managing partner of Segue Sustainable Infrastructure

Why this matters:

The shift away from tax credits for wind and solar could disrupt U.S. energy markets just as demand is surging. New manufacturing, AI-driven data centers, and electrification efforts all require vast amounts of power. Solar, wind, and battery storage have driven most of the grid’s recent growth, but without stable incentives, developers may scrap projects or delay them until the market adjusts. With fossil fuel plants taking years to build and renewables now facing compressed timelines, the U.S. could see gaps in power supply, especially in regions already facing strain.

www.canarymedia.com

Megabill triggers uncertainty for solar and wind power developers

Supreme Court to hear case on Louisiana’s eroding coast

Big Oil knows that Trump’s Venezuela plans are delusional

How Chevron played the long game in Venezuela

Satellite images reveal Venezuela’s massive methane problem

Australia’s Cop31 chief negotiator plans to lobby petrostates on fossil fuel phaseout

Sinking trees in Arctic Ocean could remove 1 billion tons of CO2

Carbon pawprint: Your dog’s dinner may have a greater climate impact than your own

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.