By Ben Geman, Axios, July 8, 2026

A top renewables and storage group sees openings for progress on Capitol Hill as it looks to build more nationwide power on the political right.

Why it matters: Trump officials are targeting wind power, which the president overtly despises, and last year's GOP budget law phased out tax credits for wind and solar generation projects.

Driving the news: American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet on Tuesday briefed reporters on the group's strategy — on and off Capitol Hill — in the near and longer term.

A few highlights of its quest for "policy durability"...

📃 Permitting: A big bipartisan deal is a top priority in this Congress — and one Grumet acknowledges is looking dicey.

"We think the window of opportunity there is starting to close," he said, noting that a bipartisan Senate proposal from leaders of the environment and energy committees has yet to surface.
Grumet's not especially hopeful about a lame duck deal.

💵 Tax policy: In the next Congress — assuming Democrats win control of at least one chamber — the group sees openings for new credits that support transmission projects, and improving incentives for domestic manufacturing.

"We look forward to the opportunity, as we move into what we anticipate is divided government, to restore some of the bipartisan support for this industry," Grumet said.
Boosting transmission would help ensure the grid is adequate for all energy technologies, he said.

🚢 Tariffs and trade: "We think there is growing discomfort in the Congress about the way tariffs are being used," Grumet said.

There may be opportunities for Congress to make tariff policy less volatile, he said.

💪 Building power among conservatives: The group has been expanding its communications and messaging.

One channel is the pro-solar "American Energy First" coalition of companies created in late 2025 that's affiliated with the group. It includes "clean energy companies that have worked together to activate a network of conservative thought leaders and digital influencers," Grumet said.

Work to date included a poll conducted by former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway's firm.
American Clean Power created a separate new grassroots effort last year called PowerVotes that aims to mobilize conservative support for permitting reform and state-level project siting work.
And it's expanding efforts to build support across the political spectrum via platforms like TikTok, Substack and Instagram.

What's next: American Clean Power will help a group of member companies launch a major new consumer outreach campaign this fall about the benefits of clean energy.

"It's really the first time that the industry is putting significant resources behind that kind of consumer engagement, consumer awareness," Grumet said.

https://www.axios.com/2026/07/08/american-clean-power-renewables-strategy-trump