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The National Hispanic Energy Council (NHEC), founded to bring a Hispanic voice to the energy policy debate, applauded Congressional passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which will help reduce the disproportionate energy cost burden Hispanic families face while strengthening American energy security.
The comprehensive legislation addresses key energy priorities that directly impact Hispanic communities, who pay 20% higher energy costs compared to the median American family. The bill's provisions for expanded offshore and onshore lease sales, accelerated permitting, and nuclear power development will help increase domestic energy supply and reliability.
"This legislation represents a significant step forward for Hispanic families who have been disproportionately impacted by high energy costs," said NHEC Chairman Julio Fuentes, who is also president and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "By unleashing domestic energy production and streamlining the permitting process, this bill will help bring down the energy burden that has forced too many Hispanic families to choose between paying their energy bills or for other basic necessities."
The bill includes critical provisions to accelerate environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act for companies willing to pay expedited review fees, which will help reduce the regulatory delays that have contributed to higher energy costs. The legislation also ensures regular offshore lease sales in the Gulf of America and Alaska, refills the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and expands support for advanced nuclear power.
"Hispanic entrepreneurs and small business owners, who start businesses at three to five times the rate of any other population segment, will directly benefit from more affordable and reliable energy," said NHEC Vice Chairman Matthew Gonzales, who is also Consumer Energy Alliance's Southwest Executive Director. "Lower energy costs mean Hispanic business owners can reinvest in their operations, hire more workers, and contribute even more to the $3.2 trillion Hispanic Americans bring to the U.S. GDP annually."
The National Hispanic Energy Council has consistently advocated for energy policies that prioritize affordability and reliability, recognizing that Hispanic families bear a disproportionate energy cost burden that impacts their ability to achieve economic prosperity and the American dream.
National Hispanic Energy Council | https://hispanicenergycouncil.org/
The American Medical Manufacturers Association (AMMA) is celebrating the passage of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and is awaiting the President’s action to sign it into law. This transformative milestone ushers in a new era for American manufacturers of PPE and critical medical supplies. This landmark legislation delivers powerful incentives and protections for U.S. manufacturers, paving the way for innovation, investment, and job creation across the country.
The newly enacted law provides targeted tax relief, eliminates the de minimis trade loophole, and introduces robust incentives for domestic manufacturing. These sweeping changes ensure that America meets its needs for masks, gloves, gowns, ventilators, and essential medical devices, strengthening national security and public health.
“We are energized to see the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ become law. This is a watershed moment for our industry and our country. The law’s bold incentives for investment, innovation, and fair competition will unleash a new wave of growth and opportunity for U.S. manufacturers. America is again trusting in homegrown ingenuity and resilience to protect our nation’s health,” said Eric Axel, Executive Director of the American Medical Manufacturers Association.
Industry Leaders Applaud New Opportunities
“This is a turning point for our industry. The ability to fully expense new equipment and facilities means accelerating our expansion plans, creating more American jobs, and ensuring our hospitals and first responders have reliable access to the highest quality PPE,” said Doug Wynalda, Wynalda Packaging, Belmont, Michigan.
“NYES is thrilled by the restoration of R&D tax credits and the ability to fully write off facility investments. These provisions make a real difference as we focus on bringing more of our operations back to the U.S. They empower us to innovate, modernize, and expand our American manufacturing footprint. This support is essential for building a stronger, more resilient supply chain and creating high-quality jobs here at home,” added Michelle Feinberg, New York Embroidery Studio, in New York City.
Key Provisions of the Law Include:
Building Domestic Reserves: New funding and policy direction for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) ensure robust domestic reserves of PPE and critical supplies, guaranteeing a stable, long-term market for U.S. manufacturers.
Permanent Immediate Expensing for R&D: Companies can now deduct the full cost of domestic research and development in the year it’s incurred, freeing up resources for innovation and improved production processes.
No Tax on Overtime: Eliminating the federal tax on overtime pay allows workers to take home more and helps companies ramp up production during surges in demand.
100% Bonus Depreciation for Equipment and Facilities: Manufacturers can immediately write off the cost of new machinery and facilities, making it more affordable to modernize and expand production capacity.
Strengthened Trade Enforcement: Closing the de minimis loophole ensures all imports are subject to appropriate duties and safety standards, allowing U.S. producers to compete on quality and safety.
Permanent Section 199A Pass-Through Deduction: Small and mid-sized manufacturers benefit from a lower effective tax rate, freeing up capital for hiring, expansion, and innovation.
Axel added, “The American Medical Manufacturers Association and its members are ready to seize these new opportunities, investing in people, technology, and infrastructure to ensure America’s health security and economic strength for future generations. The future of American medical manufacturing is brighter than ever, and AMMA is proud to lead the way.”
American Medical Manufacturers Association | www.ammaunited.org
The House of Representatives passed the 2025 Budget Reconciliation bill, which now heads to the President’s desk for signature Friday, July 4. The final language curtails clean energy tax credits from current law but maintains them through 2027 and the next Congress.
With its passage, offshore wind projects must either start construction by mid-2026 or finish construction by the end of 2027 to qualify for Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, substantially scaling back current policy that kept these credits in place until the next decade. The final bill also includes improvements to the newly created FEOC (Foreign-Entity of Concern) supply chain reporting requirements for tax credit eligibility over earlier drafts, and removed the heavily publicized excise tax the Senate had earlier proposed.
In response, Oceantic Network has released the following statement from president and CEO Liz Burdock:
“America needs all the power it can get, but Washington chose to compound our national energy crisis by deprioritizing domestic clean energy production and manufacturing, which will eventually lead to higher energy prices and fewer American jobs. The Reconciliation Bill ultimately weakens our nation’s ability to compete in the global AI race and drives up costs for ratepayers.
“While this fight is over, I’m incredibly proud of Oceantic’s members and staff — they worked hard, advocated even harder, and made a difference when it mattered most. Because of their relentless push, developers now have one year to start construction and retain 100% of their tax credits, with a simple ‘safe harbor’ option. Offshore wind remains a tool to address our nation’s surging energy demand and rising energy costs while driving economic growth. Now we double down and keep fighting for stable policies that let clean energy keep building."
Oceantic Network | https://oceantic.org/
The American Clean Power Association (ACP) issued the following statement from CEO Jason Grumet after the House voted to concur with the Senate tax and spending bill:
“Today's Congressional action is a dramatic swing in federal policy, disrupting the good faith investments of American companies that are powering our economy and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. The legislation restricts energy production, raises prices for American businesses and families, and challenges the reliability of our existing electric grid.
“While the new policies are a step backward, the combination of surging demand for electric power and economic benefits of renewable energy technologies ensure that clean power will continue to play a significant and growing role in our nation's energy mix.
“America's electricity demand is projected to surge by as much as 50% by 2040. That growth requires every available source of reliable power, including the clean energy technologies that are the only shovel-ready sources of additional power and the low-cost option across much of the nation.
“Our economic and national security requires that we support all forms of American energy. It is time for the brawlers to get out of the way and let the builders get back to work.”
FACTS ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY
The country needs more electricity to power innovation and economic growth.
U.S. electricity demand will surge by 35-50% between 2024 and 2040. And the current data center pipeline in the U.S. demands upwards of 100 GW of new power.
Clean energy is a significant and growing part of our energy supply.
Utility-scale clean power capacity exceeds 320 GW nationwide -- enough to power nearly 80 million American homes.
Wind and solar alone account for approximately 16% of U.S. electricity generation.
Last year, the industry invested $80 billion to deploy 49 GW, representing 93% of electricity capacity brought online.
Looking forward, 95% of projects in line to connect to the grid are wind, solar, and storage. With more than 2,000 GW queued up, there is more than enough to meet the country's needs.
These resources support the U.S. economy beyond critical power supply.
The industry supports 1.4 million American jobs -- 460,000 directly and nearly a million more in supply chains and supporting industries.
200 existing manufacturing facilities are actively building primary clean power components in local communities across 38 states to supply the booming demand for new energy in America.
The clean power manufacturing sector currently contributes $18 billion to U.S. GDP annually, spurs $33 billion in domestic spending annually, and supports 122,000 American jobs across the country.
American Clean Power Association | https://cleanpower.org/
Following is a statement by Paula Glover, president and CEO of the Alliance to Save Energy on the budget reconciliation bill passed by the House and sent to President Trump.
“As sent to President Trump, the budget reconciliation plan is a setback for efforts to reduce energy waste, lower energy bills and provide reliable energy to all Americans.
“But we cannot look back. Rest assured, we will be working to educate policymakers about the value of energy efficiency in addressing many of the challenges that face our energy system today.
“Reducing energy waste is not controversial. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C), the New Energy Efficient Home Credit (45L) and the Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction (179D) are inexpensive policies that offer payback many times higher than the cost.
“Looking forward, we will emphasize the value of restoring pro-efficiency policies. And we will create innovative ways to make our energy resources stretch further and ease growing pressure on the power grid. Pro efficiency policies, and innovation can help President Trump meet his pledge to cut energy bills by 50%.
“The Section 25C incentive generates $2.1 billion in tax relief a year and supports 240,000 American jobs. Every $1 in 25C tax benefit supports $10 in consumer investment in efficient appliances and homes. This is but one example of what efficiency can achieve for Americans.
"Energy efficiency also supports American manufacturers, American energy dominance, American innovation and American communities.
“The Alliance to Save Energy will be at the forefront of a new American effort to innovate, to mitigate cost increases and to partnering with anyone who will help create a smarter, more efficient and more accessible energy system.”
The Alliance to Save Energy | https://www.ase.org/
Caterpillar Inc. announced the results of a fuel flexibility project with District Energy St. Paul that successfully demonstrated a 2.0 MW combined heat and power (CHP) system with a Cat G3516 gas generator set using 100% hydrogen fuel. The CHP system demonstrated maximum efficiency consistent with high-performance generator sets operating entirely on natural gas.
The project’s objective was to evaluate the solution’s impact on local air quality and highlight the reliability and durability of a hydrogen system. To fully assess every aspect of the hydrogen system under real-world operating conditions, power and heat from the demonstration project were fed into the Minnesota utility’s active distribution system. The system used 100% hydrogen fuel and 100% natural gas fuel for up to 200 hours with each fuel type.
“As technology in our industry continues to advance, we will need a range of fuels and energy sources to capture the optimal function and efficiencies of these energy systems,” said Luke Gaalswyk, president and CEO of District Energy St. Paul. “It has been exciting for our team to help advance the data on hydrogen use with a global leader like Caterpillar in partnership with the DOE and NREL.”
“The success of this CHP demonstration highlights our commitment to understanding our customers’ needs and delivering tailored energy solutions that help them achieve their energy goals,” said Melissa Busen, senior vice president for Caterpillar’s Electric Power Division. “This is a great example of our expertise and commitment to developing innovative solutions that help build a better, more sustainable world.”
District Energy St. Paul’s Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
District Energy St. Paul is a recognized leader in environmental and energy sustainability, earning a Global Sustainability award from the International Energy Agency and recognition from the United Nations Environment Programme.
District Energy St. Paul is committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and has already made notable progress on carbon reduction targets over the years. The integration of renewable energy through CHP solutions using solar thermal and biomass has helped the system achieve nearly 50% renewable heat and reduced the system’s greenhouse gas emissions by 77% over two decades. These achievements were made possible in part through increased efficiency, enhanced customer building performance, improved data and controls management, and upgraded production with higher efficiency equipment.
Expanding Leadership in Hydrogen-Fueled Power Solutions
Caterpillar offers power solutions that help enterprises achieve their energy needs and sustainability initiatives. In addition to the G3516 fuel-flexible generator set used by District Energy St. Paul, Caterpillar’s hydrogen-fuel power technologies currently include a range of commercially available generator sets from 400 kW to 4.5 MW configured to operate on natural gas blended with up to 25% hydrogen by volume through factory-installed hardware and retrofit kits.
These solutions build on Caterpillar’s 35 years of enterprise experience in hydrogen fuels that support numerous power generation projects across multiple end industries, including gas turbines currently operating on natural gas blended with up to 80% hydrogen by volume.
Acknowledgement: This announcement is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO), Award Number DEEE0009422. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government.
District Energy St. Paul | districtenergy.com
Caterpillar I caterpillar.com
Leading renewable energy consultancy Natural Power has been appointed as the technical expert and client representative for Network Rail on the construction phase of the landmark Bloy’s Grove Solar Project - a first-of-its-kind initiative in which Network Rail will procure renewable power directly through a corporate power purchase agreement (CoPPA) with an independent power producer.
The project is now confirmed with EDF Renewables and has moved to the construction phase.
As part of its role, Natural Power is delivering comprehensive construction monitoring services, helping to ensure compliance with the technical and performance requirements defined under the CoPPA. These services include:
William Delabre, Head of Solar at Natural Power, said: “We’re proud to support Network Rail on such a landmark project for UK infrastructure and the energy transition. Bloy’s Grove represents a model for future public-private partnerships driving sustainability at scale.
“This partnership underscores the growing task of technical consultancy support in securing reliable, long-term renewable energy supply across the UK's essential infrastructure network. Specifically, our role in this project ensures transparency, accountability, and technical rigour throughout construction.”
Natural Power has already provided technical support to Network Rail during the initial tender process which led to EDF’s Bloy’s Grove project being selected. The three phases of this work included helping to define technical specifications and evaluation criteria which aligned with Network Rail’s requirements, followed by undertaking technical evaluations of the submitted bids, and finally, providing support on technical matters during negotiations with the winning bidder.
The technical support provided included assessment of project development status, assessment of project construction timeline, review of technical interfaces with Network Rail and the energy supplier and providing input on performance guarantees.
Located in Swainsthorpe, Norfolk, the Bloy’s Grove Solar Project is a 49.9 MWac solar farm expected to generate 64 GWh of clean electricity annually, enough to power approximately 20,000 UK homes each year. The project marks a major step forward in Network Rail’s decarbonisation strategy, representing its first direct renewable energy procurement from an independent generator. The project is being developed by EDF Renewables.
Find out more about the project here: Going solar for a greener railway - Network Rail
With solar power being the largest renewable energy sector in the world, Natural Power has built a specialist team of solar energy experts that can look at the potential and development of new solar sites and deliver solar projects. It offers support and advice on the successful development of solar and energy storage projects, from early-stage feasibility analysis to repowering and the optimisation of existing asset performance. www.naturalpower.com/uk/expertise/sector/solar
Natural Power | www.naturalpower.com
Energy Storage Jul 15, 2025
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