¶ Overview
In 2025, Lombardo supported Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which repealed clean energy tax credits and made them harder to access, threatening clean energy jobs in Nevada. Under the bill, more than 8,300 clean energy jobs were predicted to be cut by 2035, and 63 new and proposed solar projects were at risk of losing funding.
As governor, Lombardo repealed Nevada’s climate plan and replaced it with his own, which was then criticized for being less of a plan and more of a “summary of what state lawmakers have already accomplished.” Lombardo also withdrew Nevada from the U.S. Climate Alliance, saying it conflicted with “Nevada’s energy policy objectives.”
¶ Lombardo Supported A Bill That Threatened Nevada’s Clean Energy Jobs
¶ Lombardo Supported The Republican Reconciliation Bill Which Cut Clean Energy Tax Credits That Supported Nevada Jobs
¶ Lombardo Said “Nevadans Should Be Excited About” The “One Big Beautiful Bill”
July 2025: Lombardo Dismissed Concerns About The “One Big Beautiful Bill” As “Bickering” “Talking Heads,” And Said “Nevadans Should Be Excited About The Potential Impacts” Of The Bill. According to Lombardo’s Twitter, “As beltway talking heads bicker over today’s budget bill, it’s important to remember that President Trump just delivered on his historic promise of No Tax on Tips or Overtime. That is a huge win for hardworking Nevadans! While my administration continues to assess this bill as it moves to get signed into law, Nevadans should be excited about the potential impacts of tax cuts, investments in small business and American manufacturing, and efforts to help secure our border.”
[Twitter, @JoeLombardoNV, 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]
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]
¶ Since The Passing Of The “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Clean Energy Projects In Nevada That Were Supposed To Have Created Thousands Of Jobs Were At Risk
Energy Innovation Predicted The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Would Cut 6,200 Nevada Jobs By 2030 And More Than 8,300 By 2035, As It Threatened $16.96 Billion In Private Investment Into Clean Energy Facilities. According to the Nevada Current, “The bill Trump demanded that Congressional Republicans pass ‘drastically changes and terminates existing clean energy tax credits passed by Congress in 2022, which to date have generated $11.34 billion in new private-led investment across 45 domestic energy and manufacturing facilities in Nevada,’ according to Energy Innovation. The measure threatens an additional $16.96 billion in private investment in 94 facilities planned throughout the state. The OBBBA is expected to cut 6,200 jobs from Nevada’s workforce by 2030, and more than 8,300 jobs by 2035, ‘as new investment in domestic energy and manufacturing falters,’ says Energy Innovation.” [Nevada Current, 7/9/25]
63 New And Proposed Solar Projects In Nevada Were At Risk Of Losing Funding Due To Uncertainty Of Whether They Would Be In Service By The “One Big Beautiful Bill’s” 2027 Eligibility Deadline For Clean Electricity Tax Credits. According to the Nevada Current, “Under the OBBBA, wind and solar projects placed in service after 2027 will not be eligible for the clean electricity investment tax credit (ITC) and clean electricity production tax credit (PTC), unless they begin construction within a year of the OBBBA’s enactment on July 4. Of 63 new and proposed solar array projects listed on the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada’s website, 22 are scheduled to go into service after Trump’s Dec. 31, 2027 deadline, while another 41 projects have no in-service date scheduled. Projects in the early stages with no scheduled date to begin service are at risk of losing financial backing, says Godfrey, because of uncertainty about whether they’ll meet Trump’s deadline. ‘And if they can’t say that they will with absolute certainty, the financial backing for those projects goes ‘poof,’ Godfrey says, adding financiers ‘aren’t going to wait around to find out whether you can make it. They’re going to take their money elsewhere. That’s why the ‘place in service’ (provision) in this law will kill projects.’” [Nevada Current, 7/9/25]
The “One Big Beautiful Bill’s” Elimination Of The Residential Clean Energy Credit Threatened Nevada’s Solar Rooftop Industry, Through Which Nevadans Claimed More Than $137 Million In Credits In 2024. According to the Nevada Current, “The bill eliminates the Residential Clean Energy Credit, which is currently set at 30% of the cost of a new rooftop solar system and installation. The credits were slated to fall to 26% in 2033. Instead, the credit will expire on Dec. 31, 2025. Clean energy advocates fear the solar rooftop industry will suffer as a result. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Nevadans claimed more than $137 million in credits for investments in residential electricity generation on their 2024 tax returns.” [Nevada Current, 7/4/25]
¶ Lombardo Repealed Nevada’s Existing Climate Policy And Withdrew The State From The U.S. Climate Alliance
¶ Lombardo’s Climate Plan Was Criticized For Not Offering “Actionable Steps Or Guidance”
2024: After Repealing Nevada’s Existing Climate Strategy, Lombardo Released His Own Climate Plan That Was Criticized For Not Offering “Actionable Steps Or Guidance” And Reading “More Like A Summary Of What State Lawmakers Have Already Accomplished.” According to The Nevada Independent, “Gov. Joe Lombardo’s administration has released a new state climate plan focusing on energy production and economic development — about a year and a half after the Republican governor pulled his Democratic predecessor’s version of the plan aimed at addressing carbon emissions and climate change offline. […] The document does not offer actionable steps or guidance to state lawmakers heading into the upcoming legislative session, Assemblywoman Selena LaRue Hatch (D-Reno), who has been monitoring energy and utility issues since being elected, told The Nevada Independent. She said the document instead reads more like a summary of what state lawmakers have already accomplished.” [Nevada Independent, 8/8/24]
¶ Lombardo Claimed The U.S. Climate Alliance’s Goals “Conflict With Nevada’s Energy Policy Objectives”
2023: Lombardo Withdrew Nevada From The U.S. Climate Alliance, Saying The Alliance’s Goals “Conflict With Nevada’s Energy Policy Objectives.” According to a letter from the Office of the Governor of Nevada, “Mr. Katmis: I am writing to inform you of my decision, on behalf of the State of Nevada, to exit the U.S. Climate Alliance. Earlier this year, I signed Executive Order 2023-07, which established the State of Nevada’s energy policy objectives. These objectives are focused on developing and maintaining a diverse energy supply portfolio and utilizing a balanced approach to electric and natural gas energy supply and transportation fuels that emphasizes affordability and reliability for consumers. While the goals of the U.S. Climate Alliance are ambitious and well-intentioned, these goals conflict with Nevada’s energy policy objectives. Therefore, I have decided to withdraw the State of Nevada’s membership from the U.S. Climate Alliance. Sincerely, Joe Lombardo Governor.” [Office Of The Governor Of Nevada, 7/5/23]