The IRA’s Coming China Change

Sourcing requirements – As we explain in our Q&A today, there’s momentum building in Washington, D.C., to attach new sourcing requirements to an IRA credit for advanced manufacturing known as 45X.

• 45X is supposed to supercharge production of battery and solar components, as well as key minerals and materials for those components that are largely imported from China or what U.S. trade officials believe are Chinese pass-throughs.
• Some U.S. companies are now quietly urging Congress to enact a “foreign entity of concern” requirement to 45X that would essentially stop battery and solar manufacturing plants with Chinese business involvement from qualifying.
• Why? Well, doing this would definitely insulate the credit from GOP repeal by tying it not to rapid decarbonization but instead American blue collar jobs.
• Patrick Donnelly, chief commercial officer for Anovion, told attendees of a Hill briefing I moderated earlier this week that he wants to see this happen because it would be a “game changer” for domestic manufacturing. “I’ve heard some Republicans talking about it already.”
• But it could also undermine the effectiveness of the credit for climate purposes. Similar requirements were tacked onto the IRA’s EV consumer credit that curtailed its reach and meant many cars couldn’t access the benefit.

Virginia’s planning – The state of Virginia is looking at its own plans to override local objections, which would make it one of the few GOP-led states to do so.

• The state’s commission on electricity regulation proposed a draft plan late last month that would enable companies to appeal local rejections. Under that plan, the state would create a siting advisory board that would give insights as to whether a rejection was contrary to the overall state’s power needs.
  
• It’s not a sure shot. The commission acknowledged legislation will be necessary to make this plan a reality, and the state’s divided government has rarely found agreement with energy policies. But all those Virginia data centers are going to need power from somewhere.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

• So much money is going out the door right now: In the last week, the Energy Department has announced billions in new conditional loan commitments. Good news for the Grain Belt Express transmission line!
  
• Included in those funds – a gusher of offshore wind research money.
  
• Environmental justice advocates worry there’ll be less of a rush to award money they won in the Inflation Reduction Act before Trump takes office.