Several Democratic Senators made last-ditch attempts to weaken Republican attacks on wind and solar projects in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act through a number of amendments that were handily defeated by the GOP overnight. 

The Senate’s vote-a-rama on President Donald Trump’s mega tax and policy bill extended over 24 hours Tuesday morning, as Democrats introduced a record 45 amendments to the legislation.

Recommended Stories

• GOP preserves clean fuel credit, but advocates say it's not enough
• Clean energy industry left reeling over tax on wind and solar in Republican megabill
• Inside the efforts to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant

Among the dozens of amendments were several that supported clean energy tax credits extended or created under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. 

For weeks, Republicans, including Trump, have targeted these federal subsidies, particularly those for wind and solar power projects. Hardline conservatives have called for full repeals of the incentives, while more moderate Republicans are urging a softer phase-out of the credits.

The current text of the Senate bill, which was revised close to midnight Friday night, includes steep cuts to these tax credits, including ending incentives for wind and solar projects that are not completed and plugged into the grid by the end of 2027.

The legislation also terminates tax credits for electric vehicles by the end of September and imposes a new tax on solar and wind projects that fail to meet restrictions on the use of Chinese materials.

Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced an amendment overnight that would hand some relief to the solar industry by extending the 25D residential solar tax credit through the end of 2026. Under the existing text, the subsidy is set to end by the end of 2025.

The amendment was widely supported by major solar industry groups, including the Solar Energy Industries Association, which said the additional year would give businesses enough time to adapt their business models.

While it also received some Republican support, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) voting in favor, the amendment ultimately failed in a 48-52 vote.

Several other Democratic-led amendments seeking to extend tax credits for wind and solar facilities, keep energy efficiency tax incentives in place, or eliminate the cuts to clean energy were also introduced. However, Republicans handily defeated the proposals.

Some centrist Republicans were expected to introduce an amendment supporting the clean energy incentives.

On Monday, it was revealed that Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) would introduce a proposal to change the language allowing wind and solar projects to qualify for subsidies if they have started construction by a certain date rather than being placed in service.

The amendment would also seek to eliminate the additional tax on renewable projects that are brought online after 2027 if they include Chinese components.

BIG, BEAUTIFUL VOTE-A-RAMA AMENDMENTS: WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED, AND DID THEY PASS OR FAIL?

Several other Republicans, including Sens. John Curtis (R-UT) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), indicated that they were interested in supporting the amendment, which would give them enough votes to pass it if all Democrats also voted in favor. 

As of early Tuesday morning, the amendment had not been brought to the Senate floor for a vote. Ernst told reporters that it was looking unlikely that it would be voted on, however it could be included in a final overarching amendment brought by Republican leadership ahead of the final vote on the bill, according to Politico.