Wind turbines viewed from above situated in green agricultural fields.

Trump’s clean energy rollback puts U.S. manufacturers on edge

President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Inflation Reduction Act have rattled clean energy companies that relied on the law’s tax credits to expand U.S. manufacturing.

Benjamin Storrow reports for E&E News.


In short:

  • The Inflation Reduction Act spurred investment in U.S. battery, solar, and wind manufacturing, but Trump’s proposed cuts to climate programs and new tariffs on imports have raised concerns about industry stability.
  • Some companies, like solar cell manufacturer ES Foundry, remain hopeful but acknowledge risks, as analysts warn that U.S. clean energy factories still depend heavily on imported components.
  • Nearly $8 billion in clean energy projects have been canceled in 2025, as uncertainty over tax incentives and potential trade restrictions complicates investment decisions.

Key quote:

“This now will delay things. Of course, the U.S. will then have to push even more in a few years to just attract investment back into the country. It will not be easy.”

— Tim Fischer, vice president at Ramboll, an offshore wind consulting firm

Why this matters:

The U.S. clean energy sector is at a crossroads. The Inflation Reduction Act helped revive domestic manufacturing, but political uncertainty could stall progress. At the heart of the issue is America’s ability to compete with China, which dominates global solar panel and battery production. Even with federal subsidies, U.S. manufacturers have struggled to match China’s low costs. Tariffs may offer some protection, but they also risk driving up prices for American consumers and businesses looking to transition to clean energy.

Beyond the economic impact, a slowdown in clean energy manufacturing could set back the country’s progress on climate goals. The Biden administration had aimed to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels, with the IRA serving as the cornerstone of that effort. Now, the trajectory is less certain, leaving manufacturers, workers, and climate advocates wondering how far the U.S. will be able to advance its clean energy economy as the Trump administration seems intent on undermining those investments.

Related: House Republicans push to protect clean energy tax credits in budget fight

A multiracial group of protesters hold signs in support of science.
Credit: Susan Melkisethian/Flickr

Trump administration moves to dismantle EPA’s science office

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to eliminate its Office of Research and Development, slashing over 1,000 science jobs and gutting the agency’s ability to conduct independent research on pollution, toxic chemicals, and climate change.

Lisa Friedman reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
Senator Whitehouse & climate change

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.
Four white boats traveling on river beside Big Ben in London

UK seeks climate alliance with China amid Trump’s rollback of green policies

The United Kingdom is working to form a global coalition with China and developing nations to counter President Donald Trump’s rejection of climate policies and alignment with fossil fuel-heavy countries.

Fiona Harvey reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
A collection of buildings with antennas built on black lava rocks at the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawai'i.

Key climate research office may close amid federal cost-cutting

A federal cost-cutting initiative may shut down the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) office that manages Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory, a critical site for tracking atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Austyn Gaffney reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
Bottles of chemicals on a shelf

Trump promises action on toxics while his EPA weakens chemical rules

President Trump has pledged to tackle toxic chemicals, but his administration is rolling back regulations that limit industrial pollution and chemical exposure.

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.

Keep reading...Show less
The EPA building in Washington DC with several columns  and glass pained doors and windows.

EPA’s direction under Trump draws criticism from former agency head

The Trump administration’s cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have weakened its ability to protect public health, says former EPA administrator Christine Todd Whitman, who warns that environmental oversight is at risk.

Steve Curwood and Paloma Beltran report for Living On Earth.

Keep reading...Show less
Greenpeace sign hanging on a wire with a tropical background.

Greenpeace faces financial peril in high-stakes lawsuit

Greenpeace, known for its bold environmental activism, could be forced to close its U.S. offices if it loses a $300 million lawsuit over its role in protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Karen Zraick reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
Aerial view of city buildings along a river or other water source.

Rising sea levels accelerate faster than expected

Oceans rose 35% more than anticipated last year, with record-high temperatures driving the surge, according to a NASA-led study.

Kasha Patel reports for The Washington Post.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

People  sitting in an outdoors table working on a big sign.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

joe biden

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Op-ed: Toxic prisons teach us that environmental justice needs abolition

Op-ed: Toxic prisons teach us that environmental justice needs abolition

Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.

Agents of Change in Environmental Justice logo

LISTEN: Reflections on the first five years of the Agents of Change program

The leadership team talks about what they’ve learned — and what lies ahead.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.