Recent changes to the Senate’s sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill,” backed by former President Donald Trump, are drawing criticism from Colorado leaders and renewable energy advocates. The bill proposes slashing tax incentives for wind and solar energy projects and introduces new taxes on clean energy development—moves that many in the state say could devastate the growing industry.
Tom Hunt, CEO of Denver-based Pivot Energy, said the bill threatens both current and future projects. “If it passed as it is, it will hurt jobs. It’ll hurt our economy. It’ll jack up electricity prices for years to come,” Hunt warned. He added that it could stall ongoing projects, increase financing uncertainty, and slow the expansion of clean energy manufacturing across the country.
The legislation doesn’t just scale back future incentives—it also targets existing developments. “It’s actively attacking projects already under development and putting a tax on potential new development in the future,” Hunt said. “It’s just going to totally reshape how the industry looks at financing projects.”
Economist Professor Kishore Kulkarni from Metropolitan State University of Denver said the bill could have a ripple effect throughout the economy. “Energy is a very important input,” he said. “So any increase in energy production costs will ultimately raise prices for consumers.” He noted that Colorado’s strong focus on renewable energy makes the state especially vulnerable to these proposed changes.
KC Becker, CEO of the Colorado Solar and Storage Association, said the solar and wind industries have boomed over the past five years, creating thousands of jobs and supporting rural economies through land lease agreements. “People who are building America’s energy future are going to lose their jobs,” she said. “Ranchers and farmers who rely on leasing land to wind and solar companies could lose that income. Bills will go up for families and businesses that depend on affordable energy.”
Governor Jared Polis voiced strong opposition on X (formerly Twitter), calling the bill “a new jobkiller, tax, and cost increase” aimed at Colorado’s clean energy economy.
Colorado is home to over 8,000 solar industry jobs, according to Becker. If the legislation passes, she warns those jobs could vanish. “We should be investing in wind and solar,” she said. “It keeps energy prices low, it’s popular, and it’s the future. Pulling back tax credits and adding a new solar tax will only slow investment, raise costs, and destroy jobs.”
As the bill moves forward in Washington, Colorado leaders continue to push back, urging Congress to reconsider its stance on renewable energy incentives that many believe are vital to the state’s economy and environmental future.
Leave a Reply