Switched On Renewables Bruised, Not Broken, by US Policy Shift
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Sep 4, 2025 Ethan Zindler, head of country and policy research at BloombergNEF and former climate counselor, joins Derrick Flakoll, senior policy associate, to dissect the consequences of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on the U.S. clean energy landscape. They delve into how this legislation stifles solar and wind projects while also affecting electric vehicle growth. The duo discusses the political whiplash impacting future investments and whether the situation could have been even worse for the renewable sector. Engaging insights illuminate the intersection of policy and energy innovation.
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OBBBA Cuts Clean-Energy Momentum
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) scaled back major IRA clean energy programs and cut tax credits for solar, wind and storage.
- BNEF now forecasts 23% fewer wind, solar and storage installations this decade versus pre-OBBBA expectations.
Tax Code As The Hidden Policy Engine
- The U.S. has long used the tax code as a quiet, pro-business way to achieve policy goals in energy.
- Tax credits operate automatically in private markets and are harder to block administratively than visible grants.
Survival Is Uneven Across Technologies
- Some IRA credits survive but with new limits and deadlines, so impacts vary by technology.
- Storage, nuclear, geothermal and hydropower retain access while many wind and solar credits phase out quickly.