As Republican lawmakers released a sweeping tax package this week and considered federal spending for the next fiscal year, The Real Estate Roundtable (RER) and industry allies continued to advocate for the ENERGY STAR program amid efforts to cut Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) clean energy credits.

Roundtable Advocacy

• This week, RER along with eleven industry partners submitted a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Wright reiterating the message of support for ENERGY STAR, and the benefits of the program driving down utility costs, bolstering grid reliability, and supporting U.S. economic competitiveness by helping building owners and managers benchmark performance and cut waste (Letter, May 14) (RW, May 9)

• In April, RER and 17 industry organizations sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin expressing strong support for the program. (Roundtable Weekly, April 4)

• In a Washington Post op-ed this week, former EPA Administrator William K. Reilly (1989-1993) described the program as “government at its best,” noting it was never intended as a climate policy tool but rather a cost-saving initiative embraced by businesses, developers, and consumers alike. (Washington Post, May 14)

Hearings This Week

• EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin testified at Appropriation Committee House and Senate hearings this week regarding the president’s budget, but offered no clarity on ENERGY STAR's future.

• Lawmakers on both committees voiced concern over the scope of proposed EPA spending cuts.

• The chair of the House’s Interior-EPA spending subcommittee Mike Simpson (R-ID) told Zeldin during the hearing, the administration's proposed 55% EPA budget cut was unlikely to be accepted. (PoliticoPro, May 15)

• In the Senate, Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) called the FY2026 EPA budget proposal "unserious" and "problematic." (Sen. Murkowski Remarks, May 15)

IRA Clean Energy Tax Credits

• The House Ways and Means Committee advanced its reconciliation bill that proposes sweeping changes to the IRA.
  
  
• The bill terminates or phases out most of the clean energy tax credits that were expanded or created in the IRA.

• RER produced a fact sheet summarizing the treatment of clean energy tax incentives relevant to real estate in “The One, Big Beautiful Bill,” The summary is based on the Joint Committee on Taxation’s description. (JCX-18-25, May 9, 2025). (RER Fact Sheet, May 15)

• Over past few weeks, several Senate and House Republicans have written to leadership expressing their support for maintaining energy incentives that benefit both traditional and renewable energy sectors, and urging a more selective approach to scaling back the IRA’s tax provisions. (RW, April 25)

• Ways and Means vice chair Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), a defender of IRA clean energy credits, said in an interview Wednesday he hopes Senate Republicans will make changes to the committee’s rollback of incentives. (Politico, May 14)

The Roundtable continues to engage lawmakers to ensure balanced, effective energy policies that support industry and economic growth.