NY solar industry fears job losses from GOP bill
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Kevin Schulte, CEO of Rochester-based Green Spark Solar, warns that the potential removal of green energy tax credits by Republicans in Congress could lead to significant job losses. The credits, which have helped Schulte’s business to grow, could be eliminated or phased out as part of President Donald Trump’s agenda. The proposed phaseout of the credits has also led some House Republicans to urge their Senate counterparts to amend the bill.
A New York Businessman Warns of Potential Layoffs due to Proposed Green Energy Tax Credit Cuts
The CEO of Rochester-based Green Spark Solar, Kevin Schulte, warns of potential layoffs if Republicans in Congress proceed with legislation to cut certain green energy tax credits. “If the bill passed as it is currently, it would eliminate a significant number of jobs,” Schulte said. He has lobbied Republican Senators in Washington, D.C. to save these credits, which are at risk under a recent bill passed by House Republicans to implement President Donald Trump’s agenda.
The tax credits, established under the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, have been instrumental in Schulte’s business expansion. If the bill passes, Schulte fears he may be forced to make layoffs, turning his long-term investment into a “long-shot bet.”
Implications for the Solar Industry and New York Jobs
According to business advocates, removing the tax credits may risk hundreds of thousands of existing and future jobs nationwide, including over 8,000 jobs in New York state. The proposed legislation has also received criticism from Sen. Chuck Schumer for its potential economic impact and favoritism towards the fossil fuel industry.
Republican Senators Advocate for Amendments to the Bill
Despite voting for the House version of the bill, some House Republicans are urging Senate counterparts to amend the bill to prevent the rapid phaseout of the credits. Several lawmakers, including New York representatives Mike Lawler, Andrew Garbarino, and Nick LaLota, have signed a letter calling for the Senate to improve clean energy tax credit provisions in the reconciliation bill.
“This is about energy dominance, and we want to make sure that we have an all-of-the-above approach,” Lawler said in an interview.
The Balancing Act of Republican Leaders
With the Senate now considering the legislation, climate advocates and clean energy business owners are watching closely. The bill passed the House by a slim margin, and any changes to restore the tax credits could risk a backlash from certain right-wing members, potentially endangering the bill’s overall passage. Thus far, there are indications that the Senate GOP could undo some of the tax credit changes approved by the House.
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