Over the past decade, North Carolina has emerged as a national leader in clean energy manufacturing and deployment—attracting billions in investment and generating thousands of well-paying jobs for North Carolinians.
The passage of Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (OBBBA) could put this progress at risk by rolling back access to critical incentives, leaving families unable to benefit from home energy upgrades that improve efficiency and lower costs.
According to an analysis from Energy Innovation, the OBBBA would drive up the average household energy costs by $220 in 2030 and nearly $490 in 2035. In addition, the federal bill is expected to cut over 41,000 jobs from North Carolina’s workforce in 2030 and another 32,000 jobs by 2035.
On top of tax credits, the administration has targeted several federal programs, including Solar for All, a program created under the former President Joe Biden administration to expand access to solar energy in low-income communities across the country.
According to The Assembly, the federal program supported 60 grantees across the U.S., including in North Carolina and 48 other states, six Native American tribes, and five multi-state coalitions.
The Trump administration’s cancellation of Solar for All rescinds critical funding intended to cut energy burdens for 12,500 low-income and disadvantaged communities across North Carolina. The cancellation also jeopardizes thousands of jobs and projects in the state.
Democratic U.S. House members from North Carolina condemned the cancellation, writing, “We strongly urge you to reverse this decision, which will raise energy costs for our constituents, eliminate North Carolina jobs, and negatively impact communities across our state.”
North Carolina House members are not the only ones highlighting the negative impacts of reversing clean energy investments. Earlier this year, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein urged U.S. Senate leaders to support the state’s economy by protecting clean energy tax credits.
The federal tax credits helped boost the state’s economy by incentivizing companies to locate their clean energy manufacturing facilities in the state. Ultimately, the move brought thousands of jobs and over $24 billion in clean energy technology investments to North Carolina.
Despite a recent statewide poll finding that a majority of North Carolinians support the creation of good-paying jobs, these critical policies and programs are being axed by the administration.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is already warning North Carolinians that major incentives are set to expire this year—putting thousands of jobs in jeopardy and increasing energy bills for many.
The rollback of clean energy investments highlights a broader failure of the current administration to meet the needs of North Carolina families and businesses.
As federal incentives dry up, North Carolinians, along with communities across the country, will be left grappling with rising household expenses and shrinking job opportunities.
