Clean Energy Unplugged by the Big Beautiful Bill.

Clean Energy Unplugged by the Big Beautiful Bill.
EV tax credit ends September 30, 2025. Solar and wind tax credits end December 31, 2025.
 
New legislation (H.R.1, The Big Beautiful Bill) pulls the plug on the clean energy industry, some companies of which were already on life-support. The negative effects will ripple throughout many different supporting players, including utilities, inverters, lithium and polysilicon miners and manufacturers and some chip makers. Email [email protected] if you would like an updated Auto, Solar and Wind, Semiconductor, Lithium or Utility Stock Report Cards.
 
Here are the things I will cover in this blog.
 
Electric Vehicles 
Solar and Wind 
Inverters and Chipmakers 
Lithium and Polysilicon Industries 
Homeowners and Energy Efficiency Tax Credits
Utilities
Clean Energy ETFs
 
And here is more on each topic.
 
Electric Vehicles 
Electric vehicles are not one of the clean industries on life-support. This is the fastest growing vertical in the automotive industry. Electric car sales reached 1.4 million in the U.S. and 11 million in China in 2024 (source: IEA.org).

Projections have EVs reaching 71% of the total auto market within a decade. Despite this positive industry news, Tesla’s deliveries were down -13.5% in the 2nd quarter. As I mentioned in my Tesla blog last week, “This could result in a drop of up to $1 billion in quarterly revenue from the 2nd quarter of 2024, due to the intense price wars that EV makers are engaged in, requiring almost all EV automakers to reduce prices to compete.” With inventory building up at Tesla, will the loss of the tax credit force the company to lower prices even more in the U.S. Will people pile in with a purchase in the 3rd quarter, while the EV tax credit is still alive? (This could definitely initiate a near-term bump in sales.)
​
Taking away the $7,500 EV tax credit, effective Sept. 30, 2025, is bad news for Tesla. However, it’s not a death knell for the company. (Tesla sells more cars in China than in the U.S.) Having said that, Tesla’s shares, even with the pullback this year, are very expensive. (Should a company with just $7.13 billion in net income really be valued at a trillion dollars?) Tesla’s shares are priced for years down the road, based on Tesla’s potential in artificial intelligence (particularly in autonomous vehicles) and robotics.
 
While Elon Musk fans believe everything he touches turns to gold, the bet on Tesla Vision without LiDAR is something that many CEOs and engineers strongly disagree with. “We really believe that LiDAR is mission critical,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said last week, according to Fortune magazine. LiDAR could give Waymo the edge over Tesla in the robotaxi market. Why? There's a video that shows this quite clearly in my Robotaxi blog. You can check out my ride in a Waymo on my Instagram page. (Click to access.) Waymo is already operating in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta, with expansion plans into Miami and Washington D.C. in 2026.

One final note: when the economy slows down, car sales tank. The U.S. economy is expected to fall to just 1.4% GDP growth in 2025, compared to 2.8% in 2024. The 2nd half of 2025 is expected to have slower auto sales than the 1st half. Some analysts believe there will be a bump in 3rd quarter in EV sales before the credit expires. There is a great deal of uncertainty whether car buyers will be able to purchase EVs without the government support, particularly since consumer debt is at an all-time high, and delinquencies on student loans surged in May (source: New York Federal Reserve Bank).
 
Solar and Wind 
Sunpower declared bankruptcy on August 5, 2024. Commercial, community and utility solar projects have grown, while the residential rooftop vertical struggled – perhaps due to the higher interest rates.
 
By comparison, First Solar’s revenues were up 6.35% year over year in the 1st quarter, and the revenue guidance issued in the 1Q 2025 earnings report was for $4.5-$5.5 billion, compared to $4.1 billion in 2024. While not explosive, this could be enough to keep investors interested. However, this guidance came before the Big, Beautiful Bill passed. First Solar could lower the projection as a result of the solar tax credit getting pulled. However, we could also see a frenzy of activity before the Dec. 31, 2025, expiration of solar credits. At any rate, 2026 will struggle to be as strong for First Solar, unless there is a major mid-term upset in Congress.
 
American Superconductor is another company that is shining brightly as many clean energy companies struggle. (Many companies on our Wind/Solar stock report card have seen their revenue sink, their debt soar and are cash negative.) AMSC’s turbines are useful in military ships, their “protection” degaussing systems cloak war ships, and their clean energy technology and power conduction solutions are popular with utility companies. Defense is always in favor under a Republican Administration, especially when there are active wars going on.
 
AMSC’s revenue was up 58.60% in the 1st quarter and could jump 63.8% year over year in 2Q 2025. Be careful with all individual clean energy companies, as we have yet to see the impact of tariffs and the new legislation, and particularly in a company like AMSC that is trading at a 5-year high, with a very lofty price/earnings and price/sales ratio.
 
Inverters and Chipmakers 
Inverters and chipmakers, such as Enphase, a former Wall Street darling, are seeing their sales dramatically reduced from the 2022 highs. Many have had their stock hammered. Both Enphase and SolarEdge have high debt-equity ratios – made worse by their new small cap status. Both companies are down by more than -80% in share price and market value, which is a reminder of just how important it is to capture gains. This was before tariffs and having the plug pulled on clean energy tax credits.
 
We suggest rebalancing 1-3 times a year and that sticking with targeted ETFs over individual companies is more appropriate, particularly for busy professionals.
 
If you’d like an Inverter Stock Report Card, email [email protected].
 
Lithium and Polysilicon Industries 
Lithium and polysilicon miners and manufacturers have been out of favor for a few years. The problem is that there is a very prolific supply. The demand is high, but the supply is far higher. See the price demise in the charts below.
 

Homeowners and Energy Efficiency Tax Credits
If you are interested in energy efficiency, wind or solar, now is the time to race to get it installed. The tax credit, which is 30%, runs out at the end of 2025. Leases are not eligible. (Read the bill text at this link.)
 
Also, it’s important to reduce your megawatt footprint before you get the quote on the solar. This could save you thousands of dollars. If you live in a sunny state, and you make some smart energy efficiency improvements in your home, which can be very, very cheap, then the payback time of the solar panels could be as low as 4-7 years. Thereafter, the amount of money you save on utilities could be the equivalent of a 15% or higher yield. That is an excellent investment for a hard asset that should hold its value very well and is purchased for a good price (30% off retail). The window on this opportunity is clearly closing quite soon.
 
Utilities
21.5% of the U.S. grid was powered by renewable energy in 2023.

On February 24, 2025, the Energy Information Administration (under the new Administration), projected that solar and battery storage would be the leaders of new power generation in the U.S.
​

If the new legislation remains intact, 2026 will be a different story. However, what might happen in November of 2026 or 2028? Things can change rapidly, as we saw with clean energy residential and commercial tax credits that were supposed to be in play through 2032 being completed turned off in a matter of months. However, as we saw in 2021, when clean energy was the hottest investment on Wall Street, the opposite can also be the case.
 
Whether a utility has a large amount of renewable energy or not, with more expensive natural disasters being blamed on the companies, this industry is not the safe harbor of yesteryear. If you’ve invested for the dividends, or any other reason, be sure to read my blog and warning on the industry. (Click to acess.)

Clean Energy ETFs
The iShares ICLN ETF tripled between March 2020 and Jan. 2021. Clean energy was one of the best performing industries that year. Rebalancing 1-3 times a year will help us to capture gains. (Early January is a great time to rebalance.)
​
 

Source: MSN.com. (c) Microsoft. Used with permission.

ICLN is currently trading near an all-time low. The industry has been very volatile over the last two decades. Administrations change their policies. However, in recessions, the clean energy industry suffers, even if there is a green President in charge. (Individuals and countries that are reeling economically must cancel new projects.)
 
While there’s little to suggest that the clean energy industry will be hot anytime soon, changes can happen swiftly (even as soon as midterm elections). When we wait for the headlines that something is hot, it’s too late. So, rather than selling low now, thinking clean energy is out of favor, it’s a better idea to forecast whether the industry might be in favor going forward.
 
What conditions might change the game? Most people don’t buy low because they aren’t seeing the potential. When the gains are making headlines, everyone wants to buy (high) – even if they have no clue as to why the investment is soaring. (Sometimes, as was the case with many meme stocks, there’s not a lot of true value behind the furor.) If we’ve seen the value when no one else has, then we’re on the top of that wave, capturing gains at the high.
 
Bottom Line
Individual companies are tough to invest in, particularly in this feast-or-famine industry. Investing in a clean energy fund will lower risk. However, the industry is volatile. So, rebalancing 1-3 times a year is VITAL to capturing gains and keeping our wealth growing.
 
Would I add clean energy as a hot slice right now? No. However, knowing how much appetite there is for renewable energy throughout the world, and how many of these products make other industries, including defense and utilities, more versatile and resilient, I’m not selling low either. If I owned individual companies, such as Tesla, First Solar or AMSC, I’d move into a targeted ETF (offered by a creditworthy fund company). Most Main Street investors have demanding jobs which prevent us from doing the rigorous analysis and disciplined profit-taking required to win on Wall Street.


​

Register now to join us at our online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025 where you'll learn how to protect your wealth, save thousands annually in your budget and how to hedge in a volatile Debt World. If you'd like a life-changing adventure of a lifetime, be our guest at a royal manor house in Cornwall, England, March 12-19, 2027. (With just eight rooms available, this exclusive, private, bucket-list adventure sells out a year in advance!) Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] to learn more. The 2025 Restormel Retreat was a magical and royal experience. Click to learn more. 

Receive the best price when you register for the Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025 by July 31, 2025. Request testimonials at [email protected]. You can also view some on the flyer page of the retreat. 

Learn how to:

* Invest in hot industries, such as Nvidia, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing,
* Hedge against a weaker dollar,
* Invest and compound your gains,
* Green your retirement plan,
* Easy and efficacious nest egg strategies,
* Get hot and diversified (including in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and crypto),
* Evaluate stocks,
* Avoid capital gains and financial predators,
* Keep an age-appropriate amount safe, and,
* Know what's safe in a Debt World.

You'll even discover how to save thousands annually with smarter big-ticket choices. Yes, it's a complete money makeover. 
​​
Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more and register. Learn the 15+ things you'll master and read testimonials in the flyer on the home page at NataliePace.com. Register with friends and family to receive the best price. ​

"Ten minutes into the first day I was already much smarter about investing than I ever thought I would be in my life and I knew I was in exactly the right place at this retreat. I am amazed at how EASY and FUN it is to make my money work for me and those I love. I think this kind of information should be compulsory in schools. I wish I'd learned this sooner." CM

If you’d like an unbiased 2nd opinion on your current wealth plan, email [email protected] for pricing and information.

Receive the best price when you register by July 31, 2025. Visit NataliePace.com to learn more. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] for pricing, additional information and to register.

Join us for our Restormel Royal Immersive Adventure Retreat. March 2027. Email [email protected] to learn more. Click for testimonials, pricing, hours & details. Register now to receive the best price, the best room and eight private, prosperity coaching sessions. There are only 8 rooms available. This retreat includes an all-access pass to all of our online training for a full year for two. Considering the perks, you're receiving a 65% discount to learn the life math that we all should have received in high school, and the room is free! Email [email protected] to learn more. The best rooms at the 2025 retreat were sold out in 2024! Yes, it's a great idea to register and start transforming our lives now!

Natalie Wynne Pace is an Advocate for Sustainability, Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. Natalie is the bestselling author of The ABCs of Money (6th edition) and The Power of 8 Billion: It's Up to Us, and is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project. She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). Her book The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 6th edition of The ABCs of Money and the 2nd edition of Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is (2nd edition) are the most recent releases of these books. Follow her on Instagram. 
​​​​
Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Click to view a video testimonial from Nilo Bolden.​​

---

Check out Natalie Pace's Substack podcast on Apple and Spotify.
Watch videoconferences and webinars on Youtube.

Other Blogs of Interest
Tesla Sales Slump in 2Q 2025.
Our Super Performing Hots and Value Replacements.
Is Gold a Tier 1 HQLA Reserve Currency?
Is Your Income Strategy Losing Money?
Gold, Silver & Crypto Soar. Stocks Offer 5%. Debt Balloons. Some Foreigners are Selling U.S. Treasuries.
Get Safe & Hot in 1 Easy Plan. 
Home Prices Soften. Is Your City Next?
Tesla Vision vs. Waymo LiDAR and Air Taxis. Are Any of Them Safe?
Archer Aviation is Chosen to be the Exclusive Air Taxi Service for the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Company of the Year?
USA Downgraded. Is U.S. Reserve Currency Status Threatened?
Utilities: In the Eye of the Natural Disaster Storms. 
Aging Mom Doesn't Want to Discuss Dilapidated House. Investors Ask Natalie.
Sell in May?
Tesla, Tariffs, Chinese Competition and Price Wars.  
Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day April 22nd.
Will the Correction Become a Bear Market?
21st Century Recessions Look More Like Depressions. 
Will Oil Prices Sink or Soar? Executives are Uncertain.
Health Savings Accounts. Save Thousands. Get a Tax Credit. Provide for Tomorrow's Healthcare Needs.
Restormel Manor House 2025. A Truly Royal and Magical Adventure. 
9 Ways to Cut Your Tax Bill in Half and Save Thousands Annually.
Berkshire Hathaway. Should I Just Invest in Warren Buffett?
Should I Have a Money Manager?
Top Dividend/Income Strategies for 2025. 
10 Rules of Successful Investing. 
Quantum Computing. 
Paper Losses. ​Another Warning About Long-Term Bonds!
2025 Investor IQ Test. 
2025 Investor IQ Test Answers.
Indonesia: Rich in Nickel with Ambitions of Becoming an EV Battery Hub.
RoboTaxis. AI. The Magnificent 7. 
Why Are So Many Safe Investments Losing Money?
Canadian, Australian and U.S. Banks. Are Any of Them Safe?
Ireland. Rich in Technology, Biotechnology and Agribusiness. 
Robo Investing and AI. No, They are Not Foolproof.
Copper. Peru ETF Outperforms the S&P500.
Will Insurance Companies & Homeowners Weather the Hurricanes?
9 Money Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy.
Housing & Budgeting Solutions.
Arkansas Sues Temu for Data Theft.
We Must Be the Boss of Our Money. Why?
Fast Fashion. Fossil Fuels. Plastic Clothing. Atacama Desert Waste Dumps. 
Fintechs and Brokerages that Fail are Not FDIC-Insured.
5 Green Tips for Clean Beaches Week.
So, You Think You Want to Be a B&B Owner...
Retiring Soon? Start Planning Now.
2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. 
Answers to the 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. 
9 Inflation, Budgeting, Debt Reduction and Investing Solutions.
China & Russia Double Their Gold Holdings. 
Uh. Oh. More Bank Trouble.
Housing. Unaffordable. What Works? Case studies and creative solutions. 
The Underperforming DJIA, Full of Fossil Fuels and Forever Chemicals.
The Best ROI* (Almost 40%!) & 7 Life Hacks That Save Thousands.
13 Lifestyle Choices to Reduce Waste, Pollution & CO2 & Save a Boatload of Dough.
11-Point Green Checklist for Schools.
10 Wealth Secrets of Billionaires and Royals.
Fiat. Crypto. Gold. BRICS. Real Estate. Alternative Investments.
BRICS Currency. Will the Dollar Become Extinct?
Why We Are Underweighting Banks and the Financial Industry.
​Save Thousands Annually With Smarter Energy Choices
Is Your FDIC-Insured Cash Really Safe? 
Money Market Funds, FDIC, SIPC: Are Any of Them Safe? 


Important Disclaimers
Please note: Natalie Pace does not act or operate like a broker. She reports on financial news, and is one of the most trusted sources of financial literacy, education and forensic analysis in the world. Natalie Pace educates and informs individual investors to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. Any publicly-traded companies, funds or projects mentioned by Natalie Pace are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations.

ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies. Investors should NOT be all in on any asset class or individual stocks. Your retirement plan should reflect an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan, which has been designed strategically, with the assistance of financial professionals who are familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge, patience and diversified strategy.  
​
Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument.