75 Congressional Republicans Vote No, But Took the Dough

Washington, D.C.—The clean energy plan has sparked a clean energy manufacturing boom, creating more than 330,000 good-paying jobs and catalyzing $372 billion in new investments, a majority of which is flowing to Republican-represented districts. While voters celebrate the jobs spurred by the clean energy plan, congressional Republicans have voted against these transformative investments more than 50 times. In fact, 75 congressional Republicans have seen the clean energy plan revitalize communities in their districts, and have attempted to take credit for the very progress they voted against. Republican members of Congress have made 101 statements in support of clean energy projects and have visited 23 clean energy projects in their states and districts. In 18 of these statements and 3 appearances, Republicans praised these clean energy projects, which cited the clean energy plan as the catalyst for this investment.

“Republicans who voted ‘no’ but took the dough owe their constituents an answer on why they are okay with eliminating the new clean energy jobs in their districts,” said Lori Lodes, Executive Director of Climate Power. “Instead of working on behalf of those they were elected to represent, congressional Republicans have joined Donald Trump’s bizarre war on American clean energy jobs. The hypocrisy, though disappointing, is not surprising. Again and again, Donald Trump and his congressional Republican allies have protected the Big Oil companies and their profits, not the American workers who they claim to represent.”

Simply put: hypocritical congressional Republicans voted no, but took the dough. 

Republicans Who Need to Be Asked about Voting No but Celebrating the Dough

Even more importantly, if they win in November, Trump and many other Republicans are planning to put these investments and the jobs they support on the chopping block next year to pay for yet another tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. Voters know that you can’t have it both ways, and clean energy is overwhelmingly popular in key battleground states. As congressional debate season begins, some Republicans up for reelection have tried to fool voters into thinking they have changed their tune. Recognizing clean energy’s popularity, 18 vulnerable House Republicans who voted against the clean energy plan sent a public letter to Speaker Johnson requesting to spare the tax credits provided through it. A month after receiving the letter, Speaker Mike Johnson doubled down on his promise to repeal the clean energy plan, putting the 190,000 new jobs and $286 billion in investments in 150 Republican-held districts on the chopping block. Clearly, this letter was nothing more than a stunt. 

Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), a vulnerable Republican up for re-election, voted against the clean energy plan and said that the current administration is “waging war” on American energy production and that “America can be independent on energy and that’s what we need to strive for.” Despite Rep. Cisomani’s efforts to stop it, the clean energy plan has successfully created 245 clean energy jobs in his district. While he continues to vote to repeal the clean energy plan, he also touts its benefits, saying that Arizonans deserve reliable and affordable access to solar energy, clean energy solutions like hydropower, and leading the way in EV manufacturing.

Although Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (GA-01) has repeatedly voted against the clean energy plan and called it a “bad deal for Georgia,” his district has reaped over $7.8 billion in investments and 7,300 jobs. Ironically, Rep. Carter now exclaims that “Georgia IS the future of clean energy” and that “economic growth and environmental protection are NOT mutually exclusive.” In direct contradiction to his statement opposing the clean energy plan, he now celebrates Hyundai’s electric vehicle factory announcement in his district, saying that this investment will bring thousands of jobs and “boost American’s manufacturing economy, spurring innovation and global competitiveness within the region.” He concludes, “With this investment, Georgia will be a leader in the electric vehicle industry.”

When Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02) voted no on the clean energy plan, he claimed, “This bill will only deepen our country’s economic troubles.” However, since the clean energy plan passed despite Rep. Amodei’s efforts to thwart it, his district has received over $10.1 billion in investment, creating nearly 14,000 new good-paying jobs. Since then, Amodei has commended clean energy companies like Aqua Metals for the integral role it is playing in “building a sustainable circular supply chain for critical minerals and supporting the state’s clean energy economy.” He publicly says, “This electrification stuff is the future,” while continuing to vote to repeal the investments on which that future depends.

Though Rep. David Joyce (OH-14) claims, “Working together, across the aisle on federal state and local levels, will help restore the legacy of the American worker,” his voting record threatens to pull the rug out from under the clean energy job boom. His district has received $605 million in clean energy investments, creating 160 good-paying jobs for his constituents. Rep. Joyce, however, has turned his back on Ohio workers by repeatedly voting against clean energy investments.

Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), facing a competitive race, criticized the clean energy plan claiming that it will “only raise costs and taxes, making it even more challenging to make ends meet.” Since the clean energy plan passed, however, Oregon’s 5th Congressional District has seen 100 new clean energy jobs announced. Rep. Chavez-DeRemer applauded this innovation that she voted against, celebrating ENTEK, the largest manufacturer of lead acid battery separators, a critical component for electric vehicles.

Though they are loath to admit it, Republicans like Rep. Ciscomani, Rep. Carter, Rep. Amodei, Rep. Joyce and Rep. Chavez-DeRemer’s public celebration of the clean energy revolution in their districts speaks to the transformative power of the clean energy plan across the country. Thanks to Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote to pass the clean energy plan, Americans are finally starting to get real energy choices in how they drive their kids to school and cool their homes, along with lower costs. American workers have a boom in opportunities for good-paying jobs that help protect our freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water. 

Americans deserve to be represented by leaders who will be champions for the clean energy revolution and continue to grow good-paying jobs that are building entire supply chains here at home, not hypocritical representatives who vote against the investments for which they later try falsely to claim credit. This fall, voters have a chance to send a message: you said no, tried to take the dough, so now you’ve got to go.