GOP lawmakers approve bill to cut Biden climate spending, roll back energy rules
Lawmakers convened on Tuesday to vote on a bill that aims to significantly scale back energy programs put in place during the Biden administration. The House Energy and Commerce Committee gathered to discuss a Republican-backed legislation that proposes cutting billions of dollars in spending.
According to Politico, the funds for these cuts would be derived from unspent allocations from the Democrats’ 2022 climate law. Democrats raised concerns about the repercussions of the bill, arguing that it could lead to increased energy costs by revoking programs under the Inflation Reduction Act and granting leeways to heavily polluting industries to bypass certain federal permitting procedures.
Democratic Representative Scott Peters from California criticized the bill, stating, “We’re considering a reconciliation bill that picks winners and losers and elevates expensive, outdated and inefficient sources like coal over cheap, American-made energy like solar, wind, and storage.”
In a separate development, House lawmakers unveiled plans over the weekend to gradually eliminate key clean energy tax credits. This move would result in substantial spending reductions related to electric vehicles and renewable energy. Additionally, it would expedite gas exports as part of the GOP’s efforts to pass a multitrillion-dollar budget aligning with President Donald Trump’s policy objectives, as reported by Reuters.
The proposed legislation includes provisions to rescind Environmental Protection Agency regulations, such as those that would reduce permissible emissions for light- and medium-duty vehicles beginning with the 2027 models. Furthermore, it outlines measures to streamline the permitting process for liquefied natural gas exports and allocate $2 billion for the Energy Department to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
As discussions surrounding the bill intensify, it remains to be seen how these proposed changes will impact the energy landscape in the United States. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving legislative process.
