As the U.S. Senate begins reviewing a controversial reconciliation bill passed by the House of Representatives, Utah Senator John Curtis has stepped into the national spotlight with a public call for a more targeted approach to changes involving clean energy investments. The senator’s comments, published in a June 4 op-ed in the Deseret News, have stirred attention across the renewable energy sector, as industry leaders and advocates anxiously monitor how the bill could reshape the future of clean energy in America.
Sen. Curtis, a Republican who has supported an “all-of-the-above” energy policy, urged his colleagues to use a “scalpel vs. sledgehammer” strategy when approaching potential cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA, which has provided major federal incentives for solar, storage, and other renewable energy technologies, is now under threat as lawmakers debate the future of these provisions.
“To meet President Trump’s goals, we must bring every energy source to the table as part of the solution. If we prematurely cut any one of them off — or do so without a reasonable, responsible offramp — we don’t just risk falling short of our energy targets; we put our economy and national security in jeopardy,” Sen. Curtis wrote in the op-ed.
The senator’s remarks signal a potential fracture in the Republican party’s approach to energy policy, as some lawmakers push to undo many of the incentives created by the IRA while others call for preserving at least a portion of the investments that have spurred domestic job growth and manufacturing.
According to data reported by Solar Power World, the House-passed version of the reconciliation bill could have far-reaching consequences for the solar and storage industries. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) recently released a detailed state-by-state analysis showing that if the bill becomes law without changes, it could result in the closure or cancellation of 331 manufacturing facilities and wipe out $286 billion in local investments across the United States.
Industry leaders have warned that the current proposal would severely weaken the nation’s clean energy transition and derail momentum that has been building since the passage of the IRA. The bill also threatens the long-term viability of energy security efforts and economic revitalization in both red and blue states.
Curtis, who represents a state where clean energy has become increasingly visible, particularly through solar development, is advocating for a more thoughtful review of the IRA’s components. He emphasized that the United States cannot afford to make abrupt decisions that harm the very sectors driving future growth.
While the senator did not lay out specific elements of the IRA he believes should be preserved or revised, his op-ed has added a moderate voice to a polarized debate. It remains to be seen whether his approach will sway colleagues in the Senate to scale back the most severe cuts or whether the final legislation will retain the broad rollback approved by the House.
Clean Energy Advocates Await Senate’s Next Move
As the solar industry waits for the next move, groups like SEIA continue to push for amendments that will protect clean energy jobs and safeguard the economic gains made in recent years. The Senate’s decisions in the coming days will be closely watched by industry stakeholders, manufacturers, and communities nationwide.