The new solar and wind tax surprises republican senators

Washington – Nestled in massive republicans Bill on domestic policy is an excise tax for wind and solar projects, a provision which was a surprise not only to the renewable energies industry, but also to many senators who develop the legislation.

In a twist, republican senators insist that they do not know how or why the tax was inserted into the bill rush to pass. No senator takes the credit or defends it. And at least we want it to be deleted.

Senator Lindsey Graham, Rs.C., the chairman of the budget committee, who released The 940 pages invoicesaid he didn’t know where this arrangement came from.

“It’s a secret, I guess,” Graham told NBC News on Monday evening. “I don’t know where it comes from.”

Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was disconcerted by the arrangement, claiming that the excise tax “just came” as if she had been “broadcast” in the bill before the vote on Saturday to continue.

“This was not part of any consideration,” she said. “It’s like, surprise! It’s Saturday evening. And we looked at it as, where does it come from?”

“My point of view is – it is completely punitive in the wind and solar industry,” said Murkowski, adding that the Senate controlled by the Republican “examines different options” to face it.

The provision would tax wind and solar projects if a certain part of their components came from China. It is ambiguously, and this will allow the Trump administration to resume the rule.

Senator Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Said that she “agreed with that” when she was asked about the details of the provision. But she too was in the dark to know who inserted her.

“You can add me to the group that does not know the answer,” said Lummis.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the former Trump advisor, burned the legislation, saying that “would destroy millions of jobs in America”.

“Very crazy and destructive,” Musk said of the bill. “He gives documents to the past industries while seriously damaging the industries of the future.” He added“A massive strategic error is underway to damage solar / battery energy that will leave America extremely vulnerable in the future.”

The spokesperson for the Republican Presidents of the Finance Committee (Mike Crapo of Idaho), the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Mike Lee of UTAH) and the Environment and Public Works Committee (Shelley Moore Capito of Virginie-Western) did not respond to requests for comments when they were interviewed if the senators defended the provision.

The leaders of the White House and the Republicans praise the bill while the promise of President Donald Trump fulfilling the production of energy in the United States, including fossil fuels. Trump also promised to unravel the incentives to clean energy, the Democrats adopted in the Biden administration.

Democrats have castigated the Acceleration Tax – among other energy policies of the GOP bill – to try to reward fossil fuel companies while discouraging clean energy production more.

Industry groups have also started the new excise tax.

“Without warning, the Senate proposed a new language that would increase taxes on the production of inner energy,” said Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association.

“In what can only be described as a” midnight dumping “, the Senate has proposed an increase in punitive taxes targeting the fastest sectors of our energy industry,” he said in a statement. “It is astonishing that the Senate intentionally increases prices on consumers rather than encouraging economic growth and fighting against the crisis of affordability to American households.”

Neil Bradley, executive vice-president of the American Chamber of Commerce, praised the global bill but criticized this provision, Writing on x This “production of tax energy is never a good policy, whether it is oil and gas or, in this case, renewable energies”.

“The demand for electricity should see enormous growth and this tax will increase prices,” he said. “It must be deleted.”