The Senate Finance committee has released a draft proposal for the Congressional budget reconciliation bill. Unfortunately, this proposal seeks to cut critical clean energy tax credits first made available in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Since the passage of the IRA, YECA has been working to spread the word about these credits for churches, schools, and families. More recently our network of young Christians has raised awareness to policymakers about the benefits of the clean energy tax credits, including making clean energy innovations more accessible to households and houses of worship alike, reducing energy costs for communities, and contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment.
In response to the proposed language, YECA’s National Organizer & Spokesperson, Lauren Kim, released the following statement:
YECA championed clean energy tax credits, made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, which uplifted American households, churches, and schools. In addition to making clean energy solutions affordable to low and middle class families, these tax credits incentivized energy efficient options for businesses, supply chains, and clean manufacturing. The tax credits offered a concrete pathway for more families to contribute to the health and wealth of their communities by implementing solar and energy efficiency upgrades. The proposal offered by the Senate Finance Committee would rapidly phase out credits for ready-to-deploy clean technologies like solar and wind by 2028 and eliminate household credits and leasing options for rooftop solar, weatherization, and electrification nearly immediately. Together, these proposals will deincentivize future clean energy investment options, strain energy needs during a time of increasing energy demand, and create financial hurdles that would put efficient energy upgrades out of reach for thousands of families, churches, and towns. Now is the time to defend our families and prioritize public health, lower costs, local jobs, and a safer environment by protecting instead of cutting clean energy tax credits.
There is still time to make our voices heard on this important issue! Send a message to your policymakers today urging them to defend these clean energy tax credits.
