OLYMPIA, WA – Governor Bob Ferguson last week criticized the reconciliation bill passed by Congress, warning that it will significantly impact Washington state’s clean energy economy, jobs, and electricity costs.
According to a statement from the Governor’s Office, the legislation puts at least $8.7 billion in clean energy investments in Washington at risk. The bill phases out federal incentives for wind, solar, and other clean technologies by 2028, while maintaining and expanding subsidies for fossil fuel industries.
“This bill is anything but beautiful for Washington. It’s a fossil fuel wish list that penalizes clean energy and favors pollution,” Ferguson said. “Donald Trump and the MAGA Congress are dismantling the very incentives that have powered innovation, created jobs, lowered electricity costs and protected the environment. At a time when we should be advancing clean energy, these rollbacks are a disastrous step in the wrong direction.”
The Governor cited projections from the U.S. Climate Alliance estimating that 21,800 Washingtonians could lose their jobs by 2030 due to reductions in clean energy and manufacturing tax credits.
The legislation, according to the Governor’s Office, also poses risks to Washington’s energy security and electric grid reliability by stifling the development of solar, wind, and battery resources during a time of increasing electricity demand.
The U.S. Climate Alliance further estimates that the removal of wind and solar tax credits will increase electricity costs for Washington households by $115 per year by 2029.