On June 11, the International Energy Network learned that the latest report from the analysis agency Cleanview pointed out that the budget reconciliation act (OBBBA) promoted by US President Donald Trump is jeopardizing the viability of more than 600 GW of clean energy projects in the United States, which were originally planned to be built in 2028 and later. The core risk is that the bill may deprive them of key tax credit qualifications.
The new regulations, which Trump called "a great and beautiful bill" (OBBBA), set a double time threshold:
All projects must start construction within 60 days after the bill is enacted (that is, before July 2025);
Must be fully operational by December 31, 2028. This is in sharp contrast to the current Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) - the original policy allows clean energy tax credits to continue until the 2030s, and the new regulations will compress the project window by nearly half.
Cleanview analysis shows that 265 GW of energy storage projects, 223 GW of solar projects, and 114 GW of wind projects planned in the
United States are at risk of losing their qualifications. California was hit hardest, with nearly 80% of planned clean energy projects falling into the risk range. Even projects scheduled to be put into production in 2027-2028 are at risk due to the strict time limits of the bill.
The 2024 report of the US Clean Energy Association shows that clean energy projects are delayed by an average of 16 months due to factors such as permit approval and supply chain bottlenecks. The "lightning construction period" requirements of the OBBBA Act may not only lead to the stranding of hundreds of billions of dollars in investment, but also directly impact the US climate goals - it is estimated that if 600 GW of projects are stalled, the gap in the US carbon reduction commitment for 2030 will increase by about 15%. In addition, the Trump administration's strategy of trying to surpass China in the field of AI through clean energy infrastructure may also be hindered by the industry shock caused by the bill.
