The Trump administration’s recent executive orders targeting U.S. clean energy policies have led to significant disruptions in the renewable energy sector, resulting in the cancellation, closure, or downsizing of numerous projects. According to the latest Clean Economy Works monthly update from the nonpartisan policy group E2, nearly $8 billion in investments and 16 large-scale projects were affected in the first quarter of 2025. Specifically, $7.9 billion in investments were withdrawn since January, which is more than three times the total investments canceled over the previous 30 months.
Despite these setbacks, investment in the U.S. renewable sector continues. In March, businesses announced 10 new projects valued at over $1.6 billion. These projects include new solar, electric vehicle (EV), and grid and transmission equipment factories across six states. Notably, Tesla plans to invest $200 million in a battery factory near Houston, expected to create at least 1,500 new jobs. Overall, the newly announced projects are projected to generate a minimum of 5,000 permanent jobs upon completion.
Michael Timberlake of E2 stated, “Clean energy companies still want to invest in America, but uncertainty over Trump administration policies and the future of critical clean energy tax credits are taking a clear toll. If this self-inflicted and unnecessary market uncertainty continues, we’ll almost certainly see more projects paused, more construction halted, and more job opportunities disappear.”
The 10 new projects announced in March bring the total number of major clean energy projects tracked by E2 to 390 across 42 states and Puerto Rico. These projects represent over $133 billion in planned investments and are expected to create 122,000 permanent jobs. Since the passage of federal clean energy tax credits in August 2022, E2 and Atlas Public Policy report that 34 clean energy projects have been canceled, downsized, or shut down, resulting in the loss of more than 15,000 jobs and $10 billion in planned investments.
In the first three months of 2025, following the rollback of clean energy policies by the Trump administration, 13 projects were either scrapped or scaled back, totaling over $5 billion. This includes Bosch discontinuing its $200 million hydrogen fuel cell plant in South Carolina and Freyr Battery canceling its $2.5 billion battery factory in Georgia.
Republican-led districts have experienced the most significant impact, with over $6 billion in projects and more than 10,000 jobs lost. These districts have also been major beneficiaries of Biden’s clean energy tax credits, accounting for 62% of all project announcements, 71% of the jobs, and 83% of the total investment through March.
For a complete map and list of project announcements, visit E2’s website. E2 plans to integrate additional cancellation data in the coming weeks.
Source: Electrek
