Jul 8, 2025 - Business

Trump could make it harder to access wind and solar credits

Ben Geman

Illustration of President Trump chopping down a wind turbine. — Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

President Trump ordered the Treasury Department to take a hard line on the new budget law's phaseout of solar and wind credits.

Why it matters: His new executive order could make it even harder to access incentives under the law, which now requires projects to start construction within a year and begin operating by the end of 2027.

Driving the news: The memo on Monday demands that Treasury "strictly enforce" the construction deadline by "preventing the artificial acceleration or manipulation of eligibility," among other provisions.

It also calls on Treasury to enforce provisions that thwart credits if projects have certain corporate or supply chain ties to China.

Catch up quick: Trump pledged tough executive actions to help ensure House conservatives voted for the Senate-passed bill, which took a slightly softer approach.

What they're saying: Trump's move on the construction deadline has the "obvious intent of raising that standard to impede credit access," TD Cowen Washington Research Group said in a note.

The overall order seeks to impose constraints that are similar to the initial, more aggressive House plan, they write.

What we're watching: Lobbying and potentially legal battles as Trump seeks restrictive implementation of the new law.

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Trump could make it harder to access wind and solar credits

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