More than a dozen House Republicans wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday asking him not to axe clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) if the GOP maintains or expands its House majority next year.
In the letter, first shared with Politico’s E&E News, members led by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) criticized the IRA as a whole but wrote that repealing the credits could undermine the growth in the energy sector spurred by its tax provisions. They noted that a number of companies have already broken ground on investments they made assuming the credits would remain in place, and that eliminating them could lead to a “worst-case scenario” in which billions of dollars have already been spent for financial benefits that no longer exist.
In addition to Garbarino, the letter was signed by GOP Reps. David Valadao (Calif.), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (Ore.), Marc Molinaro (N.Y.), Erin Houchin (Ind.), Anthony D’Esposito (N.Y.), Mike Lawler (N.Y.), Nick LaLota (N.Y.), Young Kim (Calif.), Jen Kiggans (Va.), John Curtis (Utah), Don Bacon (Neb.), Tom Kean Jr. (N.J.), Dave Joyce (Ohio), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa), Juan Ciscomani (Ariz.), Mark Amodei (Nev.) and Buddy Carter (Ga.).
“Energy tax credits have spurred innovation, incentivized investment, and created good jobs in many parts of the country – including many districts represented by members of our conference,” they wrote. “We must reverse the policies which harm American families while protecting and refining those that are making our country more energy independent and Americans more energy secure. As Republicans, we support an all-of-the-above approach to energy development and tax credits that incentivize domestic production, innovation, and delivery from all sources.”
Republicans in the chamber currently have a razor-thin margin, and any repeal vote would be doomed in the Senate. However, former President Trump has indicated he would support repeal of some or all of the law if returned to the White House, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called a repeal “no idle threat” in June.
The Hill has reached out to Johnson’s office for comment.