Despite Warning That Cutting The Credits Would Increase Energy Prices And Threatened Billions In Clean Energy Investments In Her District And Across Virginia, Jen Kiggans Voted To Cut Them Anyway

Kiggans Voted To Gut Clean Energy Tax Credits And Afterwards Tried To Get The Senate To “Mitigate” The Bill’s Impacts On Clean Energy Investments Kiggans Voted To Gut Clean Energy Tax Credits And Accepted The “Sledgehammer” The Big Beautiful Bill Took To Clean Energy Tax Credits

Bloomberg: “Kiggans Cast Herself As The Leading Republican Champion Of Renewables. Yet In The End, She Cast The Deciding Vote In Favor Of The Bill Despite Its Blow To Wind And Solar.” “In the weeks before the House of Representative’s vote to gut clean energy tax credits in President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, Virginia Congresswoman Jen Kiggans cast herself as the leading Republican champion of renewables. Yet in the end, she cast the deciding vote in favor of the bill despite its blow to wind and solar. Now the swift elimination of those subsidies, a rollback that also remains in the Senate version of the legislation, put Kiggans at odds with many in her district — already among the most competitive in the nation — as Democrats seize any opening to take Republicans’ House narrow majority next year. […] ‘This provides ammo for Democrats, and obviously Kiggans is one of their top targets this cycle,” said Erin Covey, House Editor at Cook Political Report. “She has to walk this fine line between both appeasing the more middle of her district and also appeasing Trump.’” [Bloomberg, 6/18/25]

Bloomberg Headline: “Republican Who Flip-Flopped On Energy Credits Risks Voters’ Ire.” [Bloomberg, 6/18/25]

The Hill Headline: “House Moderates Accept Sledgehammer Approach To Green Energy Tax Credits Despite Calls For Scalpel.” [The Hill, 5/23/25]

The Hill: Kiggans Accepted The “Sledgehammer” The Big Beautiful Bill Took To Clean Energy Tax Credits. “Despite insisting for months they wanted green energy tax credits to be handled with a scalpel in their sweeping reconciliation measure, moderate Republicans ultimately accepted a sledgehammer against the subsidies. Most of the 13 members who warned the original text of President Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ could ‘provoke an energy crisis or cause higher energy bills for working families,’ ultimately voted to support it after it got even stricter as part of a deal to win over conservative hard-liners. […] Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) whose district is home to a major wind project in progress, released a statement saying she supported the bill overall, though she had harsh words for its approach to the energy tax credits.” [The Hill, 5/23/25]

Associated Press Headline: “Tax Bill Passed By House Republicans Would Gut Biden-Era Clean Energy Tax Credits.” [Associated Press, 5/22/25]

Kiggans Voted For The One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In July 2025, Kiggans voted for: “Motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would permanently extend nearly $4 trillion in expiring individual and business tax cuts, create several new tax breaks and fund border and immigration enforcement and air traffic control upgrades. It would cut Medicaid and other safety net programs to partly offset the cost. Among other provisions, it would raise the statutory debt ceiling by $5 trillion and appropriate more than $448 billion in mandatory funding for Trump administration priorities and other needs, including $153 billion for defense, $89 billion for immigration enforcement, and $89.5 billion for border control and security. It also would increase the state and local tax deduction cap to $40,000 annually for five years for households making up to $500,000 a year until 2030, when it would permanently revert to $10,000.” The motion was agreed to by a vote of 218-214. [HR 1, Vote #190, 7/3/25; CQ, 7/3/25]

• Kiggans Voted For The One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In May 2025, Kiggans voted for: “Passage of the bill that would provide for approximately $3.8 trillion in net tax cuts and $321 billion in military, border enforcement and judiciary spending, offset by $1.5 trillion in spending reductions, as instructed in the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). It would raise the statutory debt limit by $4 trillion and provide for increased spending on defense and border security, spending cuts on social safety net programs, such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also includes a mix of tax breaks for businesses and individuals; tax increases on universities and foundations; and a phase-down of clean energy tax credits. It would reduce spending on Medicaid by $625 billion over a 10-year period and modify eligibility and cost provisions for enrollees and health providers and impose work, volunteer and education requirements on adults ages 19 to 64 who are covered by the program. It would appropriate ‘such sums as necessary’ for

reducing cost-sharing payments for low-income individuals who’ve purchased ‘silver’ plans on the 2010 health care law’s exchanges. But payments to plans that cover abortions would be mostly barred. It would extend and make permanent individual tax brackets and rates included in the 2017 tax overhaul law (PL 115-97) and provide for the adjustment of the lower bounds of each tier based on inflation. It would reduce federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring states to shoulder more of the cost, expand work requirements for SNAP, extend programs authorized under the 2018 farm bill, and prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from increasing the cost of the Thrifty Food Program. As amended, it would cap state and local tax deductions at $40,000 for households with incomes below $500,000 and prohibit Medicaid funding for gender transition therapies or procedures for minors and adults, among other provisions.” The bill passed by a vote of 215-214. [H. R. 1, Vote #145, 5/22/25, CQ, 6/6/25]

• Associated Press: The Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill Would Gut Clean Energy Tax Credits In Favor Of More Traditional Energy Production Methods Such As Mining And Drilling. “The multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package passed by House Republicans early Thursday would gut clean energy tax credits that Democrats approved three years ago while supporting increased mining, drilling and other traditional energy production.” [Associated Press, 5/22/25]
• The Bill Effectively Rendered Moot Much Of The IRA’s Incentives Which Were Considered Monumental For The Clean Energy Transition. “The bill, which now heads to the Senate, repeals or phases out more quickly clean energy tax credits passed in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act during former President Joe Biden’s term. Biden’s climate law has been considered monumental for the clean energy transition, but the House bill effectively renders moot much of the law’s incentives for renewable energy such as wind and solar power.” [Associated Press, 5/22/25]

Kiggans Led A Letter To Senators John Thune And Mike Crapo Asking Them To “Mitigate” The Bill’s Impact On Clean Energy Tax Credits After She Voted To Gut Them

Kiggans Led A Letter To Senators John Thune And Mike Crapo Asking Them To “Mitigate” The Bill’s Negative Impacts On Clean Energy Funding. “ 13 House Republicans who voted FOR the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are now asking the Senate to scale back and ‘mitigate’ the negative impacts of their clean energy funding cuts. Letter is led by Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va.” [X.com, @sahilkapur, 6/6/25]

Image: see original report, p. 34

[X.com, @sahilkapur, 6/6/25]

Kiggans Was Criticized By Her Local Paper For “[Selling] Out” Her Constituents When She Voted For The Big Beautiful Bill

The Virginian-Pilot Editorial Headline: “In The End, Reps. Kiggans And Wittman Sold Out Their Constituents.” [The Virginian-Pilot, Editorial, 5/22/25]

The Virginian-Pilot Editorial: Kiggans Sold Out Her Constituents When She Voted For The Republican Reconciliation Bill. “As the sweeping Republican spending bill lurched its way through the U.S. House in recent weeks, members of Virginia’s congressional delegation promised they would oppose those sections that made life more difficult for commonwealth residents or which imperiled our economic future. Yet when push came to shove — when residents of Hampton Roads really needed the elected representatives to defend their interests — U.S. Reps. Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman folded. On Thursday morning, they voted with their party and with the president instead of with the people they swore to serve.” [The Virginian-Pilot, Editorial, 5/22/25]

The Virginian-Pilot Editorial: Kiggans Vote “Would Be A Betrayal Were It Not So Predictable.” “Yet when push came to shove — when residents of Hampton Roads really needed the elected representatives to defend their interests — U.S. Reps. Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman folded. […] It would be a betrayal were it not so predictable. For all the noise each made about fighting against the most onerous provisions of the bill — and there are many — neither had the courage to stand up to President Donald Trump or buck Republican leadership to do what was right.” [The Virginian-Pilot, Editorial, 5/22/25]

The Virginian-Pilot Editorial: Kiggans’ Vote Against Clean Energy Tax Credits “Will Stifle Growth And Ultimately Imperil” Her District’s Future. “And what about those laws which have helped the promising clean-energy economy in Hampton Roads? Gutted and effectively gone. Kiggans and Wittman, to their credit, both advocated for keeping these tax credits and other provisions that are creating jobs, revenue and opportunity here. But in the end, both voted for a bill that will stifle growth and ultimately imperil our region’s future.” [The Virginian-Pilot, Editorial, 5/22/25]

Energy Prices Were Expected To Increase By 5% In Virginia Because Of The Big Beautiful Bill

CNN Headline: “See How Your Energy Prices Will Change Because Of The GOP Tax Bill.” [CNN, 7/4/25]

Energy Prices Were Expected To Rise Over The Next Decade Due To The Big Beautiful Bill Which Ended Tax Credits That Lowered The Cost To Build Wind And Solar. “Household energy bills will be higher over the next decade now that Republicans have passed their tax and spending bill, according to a new analysis. President Donald Trump and Republicans are phasing out tax credits that lower the cost to build wind and solar, which are now largely cheaper than fossil fuels like natural gas and coal. More wind and solar on the electric grid helps keep utility bills lower, and Biden-era tax credits would have ramped up those projects.” [CNN, 7/4/25]

Virginia Could Face A 5% Energy Cost Hike Due To The Big Beautiful Bill. “Trump's tax and spending bill could add hundreds of dollars onto yearly household energy costs for Americans across the country, according to a new analysis from think tank Energy Innovation. People in states including Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina and Oklahoma could see up to 14% higher energy costs by 2035 now the bill has passed, compared with a scenario where the bill had not passed.” [CNN, 7/4/25]

Image: see original report, p. 35

Virginians Were Projected To Pay $256 More Per Year Since The Big Beautiful Bill Was Passed. “Average household energy costs in Virginia are projected to hit $5,399 annually by 2035 now the bill has passed – $256 more per year than if the bill had not passed.” [CNN, 7/4/25]

Image: see original report, p. 36

Estimates Determined Kiggans’ District Benefited From More Investment Supported By The Clean Energy Tax Credits Than Any District In Virginia

Kiggans’ District Benefited From More Than $11 Billion In Outstanding Investment From The Tax Credits Which Was The Most Of Any District In Virginia. “The Rhodium Group recently came up with a data set of all the energy-related jobs eligible for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, and organized that data set by congressional district. Here’s what it shows for Virginia, with congressional districts ranked by order of investment announced: CD 2 / Hampton Roads / Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach: Investment announced but outstanding: $11,336,513,433.” [Cardinal News, 5/28/25]

Kiggans’ District Was Home To The Country’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Which Stood To Gain Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars From The Credits

Kiggans’ District Was Home To The Country’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Which Stood To Gain Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars From The Credits. “In Virginia alone, green energy projects are on track to contribute $37 billion to the economy by 2035, in large part because of federal incentives, the two-term lawmaker told the House’s tax writing committee. Those projects include the nation’s largest offshore wind farm now under construction by Dominion Energy Inc. off the coast of Kiggans’ Virginia Beach district, which stands to gain hundreds of millions of dollars from the credits.” [Bloomberg, 6/18/25]

In Virginia Alone Green Energy Projects Were On Track To Contribute $37 Billion To The Economy By 2035 Due In Large Part Because Of Federal Incentives

Virginia’s Green Energy Projects Were On Track To Contribute $37 Billion To The Economy By 2035 Due In Large Part Because Of Federal Incentives. “In Virginia alone, green energy projects are on track to contribute $37 billion to the economy by 2035, in large part because of federal incentives, the two-term lawmaker told the House’s tax writing committee. Those projects include the nation’s largest offshore wind farm now under construction by Dominion Energy Inc. off the coast of Kiggans’ Virginia Beach district, which stands to gain hundreds of millions of dollars from the credits.” [Bloomberg, 6/18/25]

In August 2025, Virginia Lost Out On $156 Million In Clean Energy Investment Due To A Cancelled EPA Grant Because Of The Big Beautiful Bill

Headline: “Virginia Loses $156 Million For Expanding Solar Power After EPA Grant Cut.” [NPR, 8/13/25]

Virginia Lost Out On $156 Million In A Cancelled EPA Solar For All Grant Because Of The Big Beautiful Bill. “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Virginia $156 million last year through Solar for All, a $7 billion program launched under the Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden's signature climate legislation. In a social media post last week, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the Big Beautiful Bill, recently passed by Congress, eliminates the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which included Solar for All. ‘EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive,’ Zeldin said.” [NPR, 8/13/25]

• Several National Environmental Groups And Grant Recipients Said They Would Challenge The Cancellation In Court Because The Money Was Already Considered Obligated. “Several national environmental groups and grant recipients say they plan to challenge the move in court, because the money was already considered obligated. Virginia Energy confirmed in an email it has received notice of the termination. All eligible costs incurred by the state during the planning phase are covered under the award's initial terms, said spokesperson Richard Borean.” [NPR, 8/13/25]
• Hampton Roads Organizations Had Lost About $50 Million Due To Trump’s Environment Grant Cancellations. “The Solar for All termination adds to a long list of environmental grants Trump has canceled since taking office. Hampton Roads organizations have lost about $50 million that would have funded projects such as dam improvements in Portsmouth, resilience upgrades at Historic Jamestown and neighborhood flood mitigation in Hampton.” [NPR, 8/13/25]
• Virginia Energy Said The Economic Impact To The Local Solar Industry Would Have Added About 1,000 Jobs. “About half of Virginia households were expected to qualify for Solar For All, which sought to reduce energy bills by making solar power more affordable for low to moderate-income families. That included helping more than 15,000 households install rooftop panels or buy into community shared solar projects. In a press release announcing the award last year, Virginia Energy touted the economic impact, expecting the local solar industry would add about 1,000 jobs.” [NPR, 8/13/25]