As the Senate takes up its version of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” one can only hope it corrects the shortcomings of Congress’s earlier draft. In its current form, the bill falls woefully short—failing to meaningfully address the energy crisis, strengthen the U.S. economy, or help America remain competitive in the global AI arms race.
Critics of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and of free-fuel technologies like solar and wind, argue that repealing these clean energy incentives could generate $500 billion in tax revenue over the next decade. But let’s put that in perspective: the U.S. government is projected to spend nearly $90 trillion in the same period. That’s a mere 0.5%—a drop in the bucket, not a fiscal game-changer.
Energy policy in America needs to be driven by facts, not factions.
Proponents of free-fuel technologies often frame their arguments around climate change and sustainability. Yet, in many of the regions where solar or wind is actively being developed, voter data reveals deep skepticism toward both climate science and the value of renewable energy, for decades. Perhaps if economic benefits were only communicated, solar and wind would be in a different situation.
This communication breakdown is a symptom of a larger problem: American tribalism. If our energy future continues to be dictated by political identity rather than national interest, the current energy crisis will not only persist—it will escalate.
Unfortunately, the American public remains unconvinced that an energy crisis is even looming. It’s not hard to see why. Past institutional failures—from Enron’s staged “rolling blackouts” to the Bush administration’s false “weapons of mass destruction” —have eroded public trust and encouraged tribalism.
One area where tribalism cannot be allowed to take hold: long-haul transmission. Expanding and modernizing our transmission infrastructure is among the most critical investments we can make today. For now, transmission remains a rare bipartisan priority—and we all know bipartisanship is fragile.
Moderate Senators resisting the repeal of the IRA understand the stakes. They know that rural communities stand to gain from energy and grid investment, and that dismantling our progress would make America less competitive in the global economy—particularly in the race to lead in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
If we fail to act with urgency and unity, we risk falling behind. But if we seize this moment to build a resilient, modern grid—one that delivers abundant energy across the country—we can secure not just energy independence, but economic strength for decades to come.
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Joe Amara Executive Search represents companies in power generation, transmission, and digital infrastructure, with a focus on C-suite, leadership, and critical hires.
To learn more, please visit us at joeamara.com
