Inside the Greenhouse is a monthly update on FCNL’s environmental advocacy and the climate crisis. 

Climate Funding and Clean Energy Tax Credits at Risk in the Senate

For the past few weeks, the Senate has been working on the budget reconciliation bill, which passed the House of Representatives on May 21. The House version of the bill proposes sweeping cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA, P.L. 117-169) and the effective termination of clean energy tax credits. They have generated hundreds of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in investments.

The House version eliminates the Loan Programs Office at the Department of Energy which helps finance clean energy production. It cuts $75 million from the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program and $25 million from clean air grants for low-income communities. The House bill also phases out clean energy tax credits that have helped create resilient, renewable clean energy systems.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, responsible for environmental policy and, importantly, the Environmental Protection Agency, recently released a relatively similar budget reconciliation text. It repeals and rescinds IRA climate provisions. For example, it claws back any unspent funds for grants to communities impacted by air pollution and climate change. FCNL opposes these threats to access to clean air and stewardship of our shared environment.

The Senate Committee on Finance, which has jurisdiction over the clean energy tax credits, is currently writing its legislative text. The time to act is now. Over 8,500 people have told their members of Congress to protect clean energy credits. Join them and tell your Senators to oppose the repeal of these credits during the budget reconciliation process.

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News and Updates

Trump Administration Asks Congress to Rescind Funding for Global Climate Assistance

On June 3, the Trump administration officially requested Congress cancel already appropriated funding to international assistance and public broadcasting agencies. This process is called “rescission,” which allows the White House to ask Congress to claw back unspent appropriated funding.

Upon receipt of this request, Congress must act within 45 days and can pass the rescission package with a majority vote, bypassing the Senate’s filibuster. It narrowly passed the House of Representatives on June 12 over bipartisan opposition and now goes on to the Senate.

This request includes funding for humanitarian assistance for refugees and displaced people, promotes peace, and distributes climate assistance to help developing countries build resiliency to climate threats and disasters. This rescissions package is an attempt to legitimize the already ongoing illegal suspension of foreign aid and the shuttering of the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID). FCNL is deeply concerned about the rescissions package. It would have devastating and preventable impacts across the globe, especially among the most vulnerable communities.

Department of Energy Cancels $3.7 Billion of Funding in Decarbonization Efforts

On May 30, the Department of Energy canceled 24 grants that were aimed at incentivizing decarbonization and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. These cancellations amount to $3.7 billion. They were specifically funding carbon capture storage efforts, installing more sustainable furnaces at pipe companies, and cutting emissions at various food plants. This advances the Trump administration’s goals of cutting spending for climate related initiatives and investments.

What We’re Reading:

 

Anna Aguto headshot

Anna Aguto

2024 Program Assistant for Sustainable Energy and Environment and Native Advocacy

Anna Aguto is the 2024-2025 Program Assistant for Sustainable Energy and Environment and Native Advocacy. She lobbies Congress to address climate change in equitable, just, and peaceful ways and to live up to its treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations.

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