The Big Beautiful Bill’s Energy Provisions — A Pricey Mistake for America

Introduction: The Missed Opportunity

The so-called “big beautiful bill” is being sold as a victory for American workers and families. But when you look closely at its energy provisions, it’s a giant step backward. Instead of helping us lower energy costs, strengthen our economy, and keep America competitive, this bill props up outdated fossil fuel industries while pulling the rug out from under affordable, reliable renewable energy.

That’s not just bad economics — it’s bad strategy. While the rest of the world is investing in cleaner, faster, and cheaper energy technologies, America risks getting left behind. Weakening support for electric vehicles, blocking renewables, and throwing billions at fossil fuel subsidies will leave American families paying higher bills for less reliable energy, while foreign competitors take the lead in the industries of the future.

At its core, this bill rewards campaign donors in the fossil fuel industry while sacrificing the American consumer. If we want affordable, secure, and competitive energy for our future, we cannot afford to miss this opportunity.

What the Bill Actually Does

For all the talk about putting America first, the bill’s energy provisions do exactly the opposite. Here’s what they include:

• Cuts or eliminates incentives for renewable energy — making it harder for Americans to install solar panels, build wind projects, or expand local clean power.

• Weakens or removes tax credits for electric vehicles, making them less affordable just as other countries are ramping up their EV adoption.

• Expands subsidies for fossil fuels, funneling taxpayer dollars to oil and gas companies that already enjoy record profits.

• Prioritizes outdated fossil fuel projects on federal lands, delaying or blocking renewable projects that could be built faster and cheaper.

Instead of supporting affordable, modern energy solutions that help families save on power bills and transportation, this bill doubles down on the same expensive, volatile fuels that have left Americans exposed to global price shocks.

Why Renewable Energy Is the Affordable, Stable Option

Renewable energy isn’t just about climate policy — it’s about protecting American wallets. Today, solar and wind power are the cheapest sources of new electricity in most parts of the country. Once built, they rely on free fuel — the sun and the wind — so there’s no risk of price spikes like we see with oil and gas.

Renewables are also faster to build than fossil fuel plants, meaning we can bring more energy online to meet demand without years of construction delays or costly permits. They have lower maintenance costs, fewer parts to break down, and no ongoing fuel expenses — savings that go straight to consumers.

Beyond lower energy bills, renewables keep dollars circulating in local communities. Whether it’s a solar installer in Nebraska or a wind technician in Texas, these are good-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced overseas. And by spreading out generation across the country, renewables also make our power grid more resilient, protecting homes and businesses from blackouts.

Renewable energy is affordable, reliable, and American — exactly the kind of energy policy we should be investing in.

How the Bill Hurts Our Auto Industry

This bill doesn’t just raise energy costs — it puts America’s auto industry at risk of falling behind. Around the world, countries like China, Germany, and South Korea are investing heavily in electric vehicles and battery manufacturing. They see EVs as the future of transportation and are working to dominate that market.

Meanwhile, this bill weakens U.S. electric vehicle tax credits, discouraging American consumers from buying EVs and leaving our carmakers without the strong home market they need to scale up production. Without domestic demand, American manufacturers will struggle to compete globally, and foreign companies will step in to fill the gap.

We risk losing the next generation of manufacturing jobs — good-paying, middle-class jobs — to competitors overseas. And by undercutting support for EV batteries and related technologies, we become even more dependent on foreign supply chains for critical components, instead of building them right here in America.

If we want to keep American auto manufacturing strong and protect our economic leadership, we need policies that encourage innovation, not ones that hold it back.

The Cost of Propping Up Fossil Fuels

It’s no secret that fossil fuels have been the backbone of our economy for generations. But propping them up with more subsidies and fewer regulations is no longer a sustainable strategy — or a smart one.

First, fossil fuel prices are highly volatile. Families have seen that time and again at the gas pump or on their utility bills. Tying our economy even tighter to fuels whose prices swing with global markets leaves American households vulnerable.

Second, handing out taxpayer subsidies to oil and gas companies that are already making record profits is a waste of resources. These dollars could be used to support affordable, reliable energy that keeps prices stable for consumers instead of rewarding corporate donors.

Third, fossil fuel infrastructure is expensive and slow to build. Power plants, pipelines, and refineries can take years to come online — time we don’t have when it comes to keeping energy affordable and competitive.

Finally, the environmental and cleanup costs of fossil fuels — from pollution to land damage — often fall on taxpayers and local communities. For example, there are more than 3.7 million abandoned oil and gas wells across the United States, with hundreds of thousands actively leaking methane and other toxic chemicals into our air and water. The EPA estimates these orphaned wells release millions of metric tons of methane every year — a potent pollutant that contributes to dangerous air quality and even explosion risks. Yet the same companies that profited from these wells often walk away without cleaning them up, leaving taxpayers on the hook.

Handing out new subsidies to this industry without demanding they fix their mess is like rewarding a tenant for trashing their apartment. Until they pay for the cleanup of these orphaned wells, they do not deserve another dime of taxpayer help. By clinging to yesterday’s fuels with government handouts, we’re locking ourselves into higher costs, more price spikes, and more risk — all while losing ground to competitors who are investing in cheaper, modern energy systems.

The Donor Payoff Behind the Bill

It’s impossible to ignore who really benefits from the bill’s energy provisions. During the last election, the fossil fuel industry poured nearly $100 million directly into Donald Trump’s campaign and spent hundreds of millions more to support candidates willing to protect their profits. In return, they’re getting billions of dollars’ worth of subsidies, regulatory rollbacks, and new public lands access through this bill.

This is not about sound policy — it’s about rewarding big donors. These giveaways allow fossil fuel executives to collect taxpayer-funded benefits while leaving everyday Americans with higher energy bills and fewer choices. Meanwhile, the same industry that profits from these handouts continues to walk away from cleaning up abandoned wells, polluting communities and sticking taxpayers with the bill.

This pattern isn’t isolated, either. Just look at how Trump carved out special tariff exemptions for oil and gas interests — another donor-friendly deal that proves the fossil fuel lobby is shaping policy for its own bottom line.

When politicians cater to campaign donors instead of the American people, working families pay the price. This bill is no exception.

What We Should Do Instead

If we truly want to keep America strong and competitive, we need an energy policy that puts consumers and workers first — not campaign donors. That means investing in renewable energy that delivers cheaper, more stable power and supports jobs right here at home.

We should also double down on electric vehicle manufacturing to make sure U.S. automakers remain leaders, not followers, in the global transportation industry. Encouraging domestic battery production and securing critical mineral supply chains can keep these jobs in American hands and protect us from relying on foreign competitors.

At the same time, we need to modernize the power grid so it can handle new, distributed energy sources and withstand natural disasters and cyberattacks. A smarter, more flexible grid will protect American families from blackouts and price spikes.

Above all, we should focus on true energy independence. That means using American-made renewable resources — sun, wind, and homegrown battery storage — instead of gambling on volatile fossil fuel markets or leaving ourselves vulnerable to geopolitical crises.

By making smart investments now, we can build an energy system that is affordable, reliable, and secure for generations to come.

Conclusion: Americans Will Pay the Price for a Donor-Driven Deal

This bill props up the past instead of building a stronger, more affordable energy system for the future. By undercutting renewables and weakening EV incentives, it guarantees higher prices, less reliable power, and lost American jobs — all while rewarding fossil fuel donors who spent millions to buy political influence.

American families will end up paying the bill, whether through higher energy costs, taxpayer-funded subsidies, or the price of cleaning up abandoned wells and polluted land. Meanwhile, our global competitors will surge ahead, capturing the industries of the future while we cling to the fuels of the past.

We deserve better. Our leaders should put the interests of American workers, families, and manufacturers ahead of campaign donors. That means investing in affordable, reliable, homegrown energy that gives us true independence and a fighting chance in the global economy. Anything less is selling out the American future.