CICE and Chamber Leaders Head to DC to Defend Clean Energy Tax Credits

On May 12, Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) brought chamber leaders from across the country to Washington, D.C. for a series of timely and strategic meetings with members of Congress and their staff.

Their message was clear and urgent: the clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are driving job creation, investment, and economic growth, and Congress needs to protect them.

The visit came at a pivotal moment. That same afternoon, House Ways and Means Republicans released a draft markup of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” which proposed sweeping changes to the IRA’s clean energy tax credits.

Our delegation was able to provide immediate, informed feedback on the proposed changes, while staying focused on the bigger picture: clean energy investments are driving regional competitiveness, revitalizing communities, and strengthening American manufacturing.

Read: CICE’s Statement on Proposed Rollback of Clean Energy Tax Credits.

By bringing real-world economic insights directly to Capitol Hill from business leaders in states including Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Illinois, it was clear: clean energy tax credits are vital economic development tools for sustaining growth and opportunity.

Hours after the delegation departed, more than a dozen Republican members of Congress issued a public statement urging changes to the proposed legislation that closely aligned with the points raised by chamber leaders during their visits, signaling bipartisan recognition of the importance of clean energy investment plays in strengthening American competitiveness.

This bill is far from final, and CICE will continue convening chamber and economic development leaders to share research, elevate business perspectives, and support informed decision-making on Capitol Hill. We anticipate returning to DC next month for additional conversations.

If you’re a chamber or economic development leader interested in joining us in a future DC fly-in, our analysis of the proposed changes to these economic development tax credits, or supporting clean energy in your community, please contact Rob Bradham, CICE’s Director of Policy, at rbradham@chambersforinnovation.com.

Now is the time to make sure clean energy policy continues working for American businesses and communities.