California bill would replace Trump-targeted renewable energy tax incentives with state ones

By Blanca Begert | 01/22/2025 06:08 AM EST

The bill comes a day after President Donald Trump directed agencies to pause and redirect federal clean energy credits.

Former state Rep. Jerry McNerney speaks at a lectern.

Former Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), now a state senator, is trying to boost California clean energy tax incentives with a new bill. Andrew Harnik/AP

California state Sen. Jerry McNerney (D) introduced a bill Tuesday to make up for President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to federal funding for renewable energy by boosting state tax incentives.

What happened: McNerney, a first-term state lawmaker representing San Joaquin County who previously served eight terms in the House, said he wanted to protect California’s climate leadership by extending the state tax incentive program for renewable energy and energy conservation projects.

“The whole idea of using government resources to encourage industry, especially renewable energy, is going to be something of a problem with these new sheeple in Washington,” McNerney said in an interview. “Let’s go ahead and preempt that and protect California’s leadership in this role.”

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California Treasurer Fiona Ma, who serves as chair of the state financing authority that oversees the tax incentives, is co-sponsoring the bill.

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