Harper + Lamb: The four-letter word missing from the One Big Beautiful Bill: JOBS

In the hazy fog of hyper-partisan Washington, it’s easy to miss what is directly in front of you. That has never been truer than in the current debate over the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed the U.S. House and now awaits action in the Senate.

The “OBBB” is a political roadmap. But when it comes to energy policy, the current bill is a roadmap loaded with innovation detours and dead ends, driving Pennsylvania jobs out of state and on a path straight to China.

The “Dead End” signs are everywhere in the OBBB. You just need to clear away the partisan fog to see them. Like big, flashing yellow lights warning drivers of treacherous roads ahead, the current bill’s danger signs show up in the form of language that repeals or sunsets a range of energy tax credit programs, essentially grinding Pennsylvania energy innovation to a screeching halt.

But why should we care about tax credits for energy projects anyway? That’s a reasonable question. The answer lies in a four-letter word that seems to have taken a backseat in the debate over the bill: J-O-B-S.

These energy tax credit programs are intended to help incentivize American domestic energy production in a fiercely competitive global market. Clean energy production is the future of the energy economy, with global investment in these technologies now reaching $2 trillion. The only question is whether America will lead, or be cut out of, this growing industry.

From the tech-neutral credits for clean electricity investment and production to the technology-specific tax credits which support emerging opportunities for Pennsylvania in hydrogen, CCS and nuclear, all of these programs are aimed at driving American energy innovation forward and securing America’s global dominance of the energy sector. These tax credits provide American energy companies essential start-up support so they can secure private-sector investment, while also incentivizing new, clean, reliable and scalable domestic energy production. Without these tax credits, private-sector investment will dry up, and so will tens of thousands of well-paying, family-sustaining Pennsylvania jobs.

We’re talking about billions of dollars in private sector investment that’s at risk across a range of new energy projects in Pennsylvania alone — from plans to reinvigorate the Keystone State’s nuclear industry to innovative projects to scale up hydrogen energy production, as well as renewable energy projects. Pennsylvania has powered the nation for two centuries, and we believe the nation’s energy future will continue to be “Made in PA.” But the federal government must show that it is serious about an America-first energy strategy.

While the House deserves credit for preserving some programs that are essential for supporting nuclear energy production, the House-passed OBBB decimates a wide range of energy tax credit programs and signals a retreat from the America-first strategy touted by the Trump administration. In fact, as passed by the House, the bill pulls back critical public sector energy investments at a time when our nation is facing an unprecedented rise in electricity demand. We need the federal government to do its part to incentivize private sector investment, and we need private investors to commit to building domestic capacity for nation-leading energy innovation.

As it stands today, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” is currently one big gift to the Chinese government. Eliminating these critical public-sector investments would effectively drive U.S. clean energy production off a cliff. And perhaps the greatest beneficiary of this plan would be China, where these technologies are heavily subsidized and gaining a global competitive edge. China does not need America’s help. Let’s prioritize American innovation, American businesses and American workers. That starts with following a roadmap that keeps our foot on the pedal for federal investment in energy production.

We urge Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman to oppose the elimination of energy tax credits in the federal budget and to support keeping American energy production on the fast track.

After all, Pennsylvania’s workers and working families deserve a fiscal roadmap that keeps them in the driver’s seat.

Kate Harper and Conor Lamb are co-chairs of Energy Future PA, a nonpartisan coalition focused on securing Pennsylvania’s leadership in a decarbonized energy economy. Harper is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing parts of Montgomery County, and Lamb is a former Democratic U.S. Congressman from Allegheny County.