¶ Overview
In 2025, Kelly Ayotte backed “some of the cuts” in Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which repealed clean energy tax credits and made them harder to access, threatening clean energy jobs and small businesses in New Hampshire.
In 2012 and 2015, Kelly Ayotte voted against extending clean energy and wind energy tax credits, including a proposal that would have replaced oil company tax breaks with alternative and renewable energy tax credits.
In 2025, Governor Kelly Ayotte weakened marine environmental protections and publicly endorsed Trump’s rollback of fishing regulations, including reopening protected marine areas to commercial fishing.
¶ Kelly Ayotte Opposed Protecting Granite Staters’ Clean Energy Jobs And Repeatedly Voted Against Renewable Energy Tax Credits In The U.S. Senate
¶ Ayotte Supported Legislation That Cut Clean Energy Tax Credits That Supported New Hampshire Jobs
¶ Kelly Ayotte Said She Was “On Board With Some Of The Cuts” In Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Which Cut Inflation Reduction Act Clean Energy Tax Credits And Made It Harder For Projects To Qualify For Clean Energy Tax Credits
2025: Kelly Ayotte Said She Was “On Board With Some Of The Cuts” In Trump’s Reconciliation Budget Bill. According to WMUR, “Gov. Kelly Ayotte said Wednesday her administration is already evaluating how to implement changes from President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill, saying there are cuts coming that she does not support. Meeting with the Executive Council in Bretton Woods, Kelly Ayotte said she is not on board with some of the cuts being made in the budget reconciliation bill Trump recently signed into law. ‘There are aspects of it, of course, that I disagree with,’ Kelly Ayotte said. ‘Like, for example, it looks like there's going to be reductions in SNAP. We're evaluating the impact on Medicaid, and this is important, because as governor of the state, my job is to make sure that we serve our most vulnerable citizens.’” [WMUR, 7/9/25]
The Republican Reconciliation Bill Restricted The Ability Of Projects To Qualify For Certain Clean Energy Tax Credits And Repealed Electric Vehicle Tax Credits. According to Utility Dive, "The bill restricts the ability of projects to qualify for the tech-neutral clean electricity 45Y production tax credit and 48E investment tax credit, shortens the timeline for those credits, and ends the 25D residential solar credit after this year. The 25E, 30D, 30C and 45W electric vehicle credits will terminate after Sept. 30. While clean energy advocates and congressional Democrats maintain that the final version of the bill goes too far in slashing IRA credits, some Republicans wanted to see more significant cuts." [Utility Dive, 7/3/25]
- The Final Republican Reconciliation Bill Allowed Projects To Avoid A Requirement That They Be In Service By 2027 To Qualify For Certain Credits If They Began Construction Within A Year Of The Bill Being Signed. According to Utility Dive, "Before the House Freedom Caucus reached an agreement with House leadership to vote in favor of the bill, the caucus circulated a memo that criticized the Senate’s version of the bill for offering an exemption from the House’s onerous requirement that clean energy projects be placed in service by 2027 to qualify for the 45Y and 48E credits. The Senate version allows projects to avoid this requirement if they begin construction within a year after the bill is signed into law." [Utility Dive, 7/3/25]
¶ Trump’s Tax Bill Cut Federal Tax Credits For Wind, Solar, Storage, And Other Clean Energy Projects, Which Would Kill Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs
The House Republican Budget Bill Included Cuts To Federal Tax Credits For Wind, Solar, Storage, And Other Clean Energy Projects. According to Utility Dive, "House Republicans on Thursday morning narrowly passed a sweeping budget bill that guts federal support for wind, solar, storage and other clean energy industries. The bill terminates most technology-neutral clean energy tax credits for projects placed in service after 2028 and those that begin construction more than 60 days after the bill’s passage. It also tightens restrictions on foreign entities’ involvement in projects, creating a ‘truly untenable’ situation for developers, Jefferies analysts said Thursday. Nuclear projects have more time to qualify for the credit." [Utility Dive, 6/3/25]
One Trade Association CEO Said The Bill Would Weaken Power Systems, Send Shockwaves Through The U.S. Economy, And Kill Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs. According to Utility Dive, "The House bill ‘abruptly dismantles bipartisan, long-standing tax policy that has catalyzed billions in private investment for affordable, reliable energy while sparking a rebirth of manufacturing across America,’ AEU President and CEO Heather O’Neill said. ‘If enacted as written, this bill will weaken our power system and send shockwaves throughout the U.S. economy by raising electricity prices, killing tens of thousands of jobs and ceding energy dominance to China.’" [Utility Dive, 5/22/25]
¶ New Hampshire Small Business Turn Cycle Solutions Was Expected To Take A Hit Once The Energy Tax Credits End
New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute Report: Under Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Small Business Turn Cycle Solutions Was Expected To Take A Hit Once The Energy Tax Credits End. According to WMUR, “A new report warns that New Hampshire could lose billions of dollars in federal health care and food assistance under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the sweeping federal tax cut and spending legislation that was recently signed into law. The report released Tuesday by the nonpartisan New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute shows how some businesses will likely be affected. Insulating homes is one of the many eligible projects supported by federal clean energy tax credits that are being phased out as part of the new law. ‘It will actually remove that $1,200 from a homeowner to potentially get tax credits for that,’ said Mike Turcotte, owner of Turn Cycle Solutions. Turcotte said his small business is likely going to take a hit once the credit ends this year. ‘We still have a tiny little window that we can get some jobs done, but yeah, I think it is really disappointing that they're not going to have that opportunity moving forward,’ he said. Energy credit cuts are one item being highlighted in the just-released report from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute.” [WMUR, 8/5/25]
¶ Kelly Ayotte Voted Against A Clean Energy Funding Plan That Replaced Oil Company Tax Breaks With Renewable Energy Credits
2012: Kelly Ayotte Effectively Voted Against Extending Tax Credits For Alternative And Renewable Energy, Paid For By Repealing Tax Breaks For The Five Largest Oil Companies. In March 2012, Kelly Ayotte effectively voted against a bill that would, according to the Evansville Courier and Press, “end several tax breaks worth $24 billion over ten years for the five largest oil companies: BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil and Shell. More than half of the savings would be allocated to deficit reduction, with the remaining $11 billion used for tax credits to promote natural gas and propane as vehicle fuels, make U.S. homes more energy-efficient and spur the production of renewable and alternative fuels to reduce U.S. consumption of fossil fuels.” According to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would roll back certain tax preferences for large oil and gas companies. The bill would use revenue generated from eliminating certain oil and gas tax incentives to pay for an extension of some renewable-energy tax credits and incentives.” The vote was on a motion to end debate on the bill, which failed 51 to 47; the motion required 60 votes to pass. [Senate Vote 63, 3/29/12; Evansville Courier and Press, 4/1/12; Congressional Quarterly, 3/29/12]
¶ Kelly Ayotte Voted Against Extending A Federal Tax Credit For Wind Energy Sources
2015: Kelly Ayotte Voted Against Calling For Congress To Extend A Tax Credit For Wind Power Producers Through The Beginning Of 2020. In January 2015, Kelly Ayotte voted against an amendment to the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] express[ed] the sense of Congress that the production tax credit should be extended until Jan. 1, 2020 for facilities that use wind energy technology for electricity. The substitute amendment would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline.” The Senate rejected the proposed amendment to the Senate’s version of legislation directing the approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline by a vote of 47 to 51. [Senate Vote 40, 1/28/15; Congressional Actions, S. 1; Congressional Quarterly, 1/28/15]
¶ Kelly Ayotte Weakened Marine Environmental Protections And Backed Trump’s Rollback Of Fishing Regulations
¶ Kelly Ayotte Objected To New Fisheries Regulations And Endorsed Trump’s Rollback Of Marine Environmental Restrictions
¶ Kelly Ayotte Objected To New Lobster Size Guidelines And Announced New Hampshire Would Not Follow Them
HEADLINE: “Trump Signs Executive Order ‘Unleashing’ New England Fishing Industry” [New Hampshire Journal, 5/9/25]
January 2025: Kelly Ayotte Opposed New Lobster Size Guidelines And Announced New Hampshire Would Not Follow The Updated Minimum Catch Requirement. According to a press release from the office of New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, “Today, Governor Kelly Ayotte sent a letter to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission notifying them that New Hampshire will not comply with new guidelines increasing the minimum size for lobsters caught in the Gulf of Maine. ‘New Hampshire’s commercial fishing industry is a proud part of our heritage, and I have heard loud and clear from our lobstermen, commercial fishermen, and concerned legislators and citizens from our Seacoast that this minimum size increase will have a negative impact on an industry already strained by existing regulations,’ said Governor Kelly Ayotte in the letter. ‘To ensure the survival of an iconic and historic industry in our state and our region, and to ensure our nation remains competitive in global trade, I ask you today to rescind these new guidelines. In the meantime, New Hampshire will comply with the previous minimum size for lobster in an effort to preserve this proud industry.’” [Press Release – Governor of New Hampshire Kelly Ayotte, 1/21/25]
¶ Kelly Ayotte Endorsed Trump’s Rollback Of Fishing Regulations
May 2025: Kelly Ayotte Endorsed Trump’s Rollback Of Fishing Regulations And Asserted It Would Benefit New Hampshire’s Commercial Fishing Industry. According to Kelly Ayotte’s Twitter, “New Hampshire’s commercial fishing industry is a proud part of our heritage and I am pleased to see President Trump remove burdensome regulations that have had a negative impact on our lobstermen and fishermen.”
[Twitter, @KellyAyotte, 5/9/25]
May 2025: Kelly Ayotte Echoed Trump’s Plan To Remove Restrictions In A National Marine Monument And Expand Commercial Fishing Access. According to the New Hampshire Journal, “President Trump is committed to removing unnecessary restrictions on American fishermen in order to strengthen the U.S. economy, support coastal communities, and restore fairness to an industry disadvantaged by overregulation and unfair foreign competition,’ according to a White House fact sheet obtained by NHJournal on Friday. […] Trump is expected to sign an order rolling back prohibitions on commercial fishing in a 4,913 square mile area that President Barack Obama declared the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Trump rolled back those restrictions during his first term, but President Joe Biden reinstated them. Now, Trump is opening the area up to New England fishing once again.” [New Hampshire Journal, 5/9/25]
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Critics Called Trump’s Fishing Rollback An Assault On Environmental Protections
May 2025: Environmental Advocates Raised Concerns About Environmental Harm From Trump’s Decision To Reopen Fishing Access In A Protected Marine Region. According to the New Hampshire Journal, “Critics say Trump’s actions are an ‘assault on environmental protections,’ as Elizabeth Turnbull Henry, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, said when Trump restored some fishing rights in the area during his first term.” [New Hampshire Journal, 5/9/25]