For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Media Contact:
Olivia Macior | Communications Manager
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(301) 529-8224 | omacior@valcv.org
RICHMOND – Earlier this week, the House Ways and Means committee voted to advance a reconciliation package that sells off our public lands and waters and eliminates clean energy tax credits. This measure, passed in the middle of the night, would raise electric bills and cost manufacturing jobs. The next step in the process is a planned 1:00 AM ET Wednesday committee vote to move the Republican-led massive reconciliation bill to the House floor.
Key congressional leaders whose districts would be deeply impacted by the loss of clean energy tax credits have spoken out, including Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, who represents Virginia Beach, Virginia’s 2nd District, calling for changes to be made to the package.
In response to this action, Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:
“This extreme and reckless reconciliation bill would mean higher electric bills and jeopardize Virginia’s clean energy progress. This funding has helped launch over 80 projects in Virginia, representing billions of dollars in investment that has already created thousands of jobs. We need our Virginia delegation, especially Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, to ensure that the clean energy credits are restored before the bill goes to the House floor, or simply vote no. Members of Congress who vote for this bill will have to explain to their constituents why they voted to cut well paying energy and manufacturing jobs and raise home energy costs in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires.”
Background:
According to a new analysis of the Reconciliation bill, the bill would increase household energy costs by an average of $120 a year over the next 5 years and $230 a year in 10 years. This anti-environmental billionaire tax scam would also limit our ability to build new power generation fast enough to meet rising electricity demands, and cost our economy more than 830,000 jobs in 2030.
A new Center for American Progress report shows that terminating almost all federal clean energy investments will increase electricity rates and raise the price of gasoline by between 25 cents and 37 cents per gallon, costing households more than $400 billion on energy over the next decade, including a $110 increase in household spending on electricity in 2026.
About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.