Tracking the Impacts of HR 1 BIL/IRA Implementation Digest

by Joe Cullen

Jul 11, 2025 | BIL/IRA Implementation Digest

Big Picture/Overview Summaries

A List of Nearly Everything in the G.O.P. Bill, and How Much It Would Cost or Save — By Alicia Parlapiano, Margot Sanger-Katz, Aatish Bhatia and Josh Katz – July 3, 2025 – New York Times – Our reporters reviewed the hundreds of items in the bill and their corresponding Congressional Budget Office scores

Breaking down what’s in Trump’s big policy act and how it will affect Americans by Lisa Desjardins – July 9, 2025 – PBS News Hour – It has been a week since Congress passed HR1. But what’s in it & how it will affect Americans’ day-to-day lives remains a mystery to most.

Trump May Not Be Done Overhauling Renewable Energy – By Claire Brown – July 10, 2025 New York Times – Days after the passage of a sprawling domestic policy bill, the Trump administration announced moves that could further hamstring renewable energy.

With ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ U.S. to Reverse Course on Clean Energy– July 7, 2025 – E360 Digest (Yale Univ.) HR1 will reset the course for the U.S. energy sector, as the law rapidly phases out tax credits for wind, solar, and electric cars, while making it cheaper to drill and mine for fossil fuels on federal lands. “China will be the world’s first electro-state, the global clean tech hegemon,” said Jesse Jenkins, an energy expert at Princeton.

 

Non-Profit Organization & Allies – Analyses, Reports & Modeling

 

Webinars Next Week

 

Solar for Schools/Solar For All/Green Banks  

Solar For All Funding Press Conference – On July 1, 2025 advocates from Solar United Neighbors Action (SUN Action) and solar business owners called attention to a provision in the state Fiscal Code bill passed with the FY 2024-25 state budget last year prohibits the expenditure of Solar for All federal funds in Pennsylvania until specific legislation is passed to authorize the program. Read more here.

A popular, bipartisan solar program to save Pa. schools on energy costs might soon go dark by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA | July 11, 2025 – A popular, bipartisan program that has committed millions of dollars to help PA schools lower energy costs by installing solar panels is slated to lose access to a key federal tax credit.

EPA Claims Congress Killed the Green Bank – by Emily Pontecorvo, July 10, 2025 – Heatmap – Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that the EPA broke the law by canceling the grants, and that HR1 can’t retroactively absolve EPA. They also served up a conflicting statement that Sen. Capito made about the fund to Politico in November. “We’re not gonna go claw back money,” she said. “That’s a ridiculous thought.”

EPA says Trump’s big bill should help in its fight to take back billions in green bank funds – By  MICHAEL PHILLIS – July 4, 2025 – Associated Press – The sprawling tax and policy bill that passed Congress repeals a multibillion-dollar green bank for financing climate-friendly projects, and the Trump administration should be allowed to freeze its funding and cancel related contracts with nonprofits, federal officials said in a court filing.

Solar Industry Says Senate Plan Would Cede Production to China By Ivan Penn – July 2, 2025 – New York Times – A revival of U.S. solar panel manufacturing that began during the first Trump administration could end with the phasing out of tax incentives for clean energy.

Trump executive order seeks end to wind and solar energy subsidies – By Reuters, July 8, 2025 – HR1 effectively ends renewable energy tax credits after 2026 if projects have not started construction. Wind and solar projects whose construction starts after that must be placed in service by the end of 2027. Under previous law, project developers would have been able to claim a 30% tax credit through 2032.

 

Quotes/Comments/Statements on HR1

As more data centers connect to Pennsylvania’s electric grid, some worry prices will spike – By Rachel McDevitt – 90.5 WESA – July 10, 2025 – But the potential for new, larger data centers are already having an impact on your electric bill, said Elizabeth Marx of the PA Utility Law Project, pointing to the recent increase in electricity rates that took effect in June. Duquesne Light’s rates jumped by about 15% while West Penn Power’s rose 9%.

Green advocates: ‘Megabill’ will raise electricity costs, cut tax credits for solar, wind power – By Chris Potter – 90.5 WESA – July 2, 2025 – Sharon Pillar, the executive director and founder of the Pennsylvania Solar Center, called the provisions “very detrimental….We have over 100,000 people in Pennsylvania working in all of those industries, and all those jobs are at risk right now.”

 

In Case You Missed It

Vatican Publishes a New Mass on Caring for the Environment – By Elisabetta Povoledo, July 3, 2025 – New York Times – The Vatican released a new rite for Mass that can “be used to ask God for the ability to care for creation,” a Vatican official said, a sign of the church’s commitment to the environment, especially climate action. The new Mass, titled “Mass for the Care of Creation,” is inspired, in part, by Pope Francis’ landmark 2015 encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si’,” or “Praise Be To You.” It was approved by Pope Leo XIV, who appears determined to carry forward his predecessor’s engagement on the issue.

Joe Cullen