House Democrats to unveil sweeping clean energy bill
House Democrats plan to introduce a bill Wednesday that would reverse the Republicans' rollback of clean energy tax credits and incentivize new renewable projects.
Though the "Energy Bills Relief Act" from Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) stands little chance of becoming law during the remainder of President Donald Trump’s second term, it will boast at least 118 Democratic co-sponsors — representing more than half of all Democrats in the House.
With Democrats homing in on their midterm messaging on energy, Casten says he hopes the legislation is “a good messaging bill” though pressing “more importantly, it’s good policy.”
In addition to restoring clean energy tax credits rolled back in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the "Energy Bills Relief Act" would encourage the Interior Department and Forest Service to permit wind, solar and geothermal projects on public lands.
“I am delighted that we have more than half of the Democratic caucus co-sponsoring and I’m sure we’ll have more shortly not because we are writing the Democratic message, but I think it’s a message that resonates with people across the caucus and frankly should resonate with Republicans as well,” Casten said.
Casten and Levin co-chair the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition's (SEEC) Clean Energy Development Task Force. The coalition has been seeking out ways to find bipartisan energy initiatives for Democrats to look at in the coming years.
The bill, which is largely clean-energy focused, would also make sure facilities like data centers pay their own electricity costs. It would reward utilities that generate cost-savings for users.
“I think we have to ensure that we are always keeping as our north star as we continue down the road of clean energy that people’s bills are going down, not up,” Levin said.
Casten said the bill would not have much of an impact on oil and gas projects, referring to the proposal as “'all of the above' in the sense that it’s saying, 'We’re not going to pick winners.'"
Since the 2024 presidential election, some Democrats have started to messaged more on an “all-of-the-above energy approach” though other members of the party, including Casten, don’t agree with its framing.
Though some members of Democratic leadership are currently attached to the legislation, so far there is one notable absence: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Assistant Democratic leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), though, are co-sponsors.
In the Senate, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats there plan to announce a "strong legislative agenda" on energy prices.
By: Pavan Acharya