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By Zamone Perez
February 20, 2025
Virginia lawmakers and clean air advocates are closely watching budget talks in Congress. They hope clean energy tax incentives, passed in previous budgets aren’t stripped from funding. These include tax credits to retrofit homes with solar panels, incentives to make homes more energy efficient and a $7,500 rebate for the purchase of a new electric vehicle.
Jack Pratt, associate vice president at Environmental Defense Fund Action, says Virginia would stand to lose from the dismantling of these programs, as well as all Americans.
“And that’s particularly problematic in Virginia, where there are jobs and savings that are already coming from offshore wind or solar or other clean energy, renewable energy alternatives,” he explained.
Virginia ranks ninth in the country for solar energy, employing more than five thousand people. Since 2019, solar installations in Virginia have increased dramatically.
Julia Pendleton, managing director of the Southeastern Wind Coalition, says she was encouraged to see Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, support clean energy tax incentives.
“Virginia imports the most energy of any state in the country,” Pendleton explained. “I think any energy source that we can produce locally, like offshore wind, is vitally important, given the demand increases that we expect over the next decade.”
One study finds that more than 3,000 jobs are at risk if the clean energy tax incentives are repealed.
Pratt also pointed out that clean energy incentives are a matter of both energy policy and national security concerns.
“It allows you to have renewable, cheap sources of energy that are not dependent on importing fossil fuels from overseas,” Pratt continued. “It helps reduce the supply chain. Once you get these things up, they’re pretty simple. You don’t have to worry about a pipeline a clever hacker could mess with in some way or some other national security consideration.”
Virginia is home to the largest wind energy project in the U.S. which is benefitting from the clean energy tax incentives.