Build Back Better remains deadlocked as Manchin insists negotiations at a standstill

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
President Joe Biden during a visit to a National Renewable Energy Laboratory facility in Colorado in September 2021. Image: NREL.

US President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act, which contains a plethora of policy mechanisms in support of solar and energy storage, would appear to still be at a deadlock after Democrat Senator Joe Manchin said there were “no negotiations going on”.

However the Biden administration has insisted the bill remains one of its top priorities and that conversations with senators and other representatives were continuing.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

With the US Senate convening earlier this week following a festive break, attention has once again centred on the prospects for President Biden’s Build Back Better Act which, amongst other green initiatives, includes measures to extend the solar investment tax credit to 10 years and re-introduce a production tax credit for utility-scale solar farms.

The US$1.75 trillion spending package has thus far been unable to pass, however, with two Senate Democrats – Manchin and Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema – refusing to support it citing a range of concerns. Manchin in particular has taken aim at renewable energy measures in the bill, claiming they would “risk the reliability” of the US power grid.

With Biden needing a majority in the Senate for the act to pass, Manchin and Sinema’s respective votes are vital.

While Manchin was suggested to have spoken to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer over the break, the West Virginian told reporters yesterday (4 January) that there were “no negotiations going on” between him and the administration leadership, suggesting there remains some distance to be travailed before any prospective agreement.

There have too been suggestions, expressed by Democrat Senator Dick Durbin, that Build Back Better had taken a backseat for the time being, with the leadership instead focusing on voter rights reforms.

But in a press briefing yesterday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the act remained a priority, adding that conversations between the president and members of his team are having with a “range of senators who are involved in this process” are continuing.

Psaki also insisted that legislative ambitions elsewhere, which could also include an audacious bid to remove the filibuster from the Senate process, does not “change our commitment to Build Back Better”.

Despite the lack of progress made in recent weeks – prior to Manchin’s assertions, it was hoped Build Back Better would pass prior to the new year – many in the PV industry remain hopeful that the bill will proceed in some way shape or form. US-based solar manufacturers told PV Tech Premium late last year how the bill should be a “national priority” given its potential to allow the country’s upstream solar sector to “move rapidly”.

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

September 4, 2025
Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order to accelerate the permitting of energy generation projects that could be set to lose IRA support.
September 4, 2025
US polysilicon company Highland Materials has aimed to begin construction at its polysilicon plant in the second half of 2026.
Premium
September 1, 2025
The UK’s new Labour government took power last summer, promising a renewable energy revolution, with solar playing a lead role.
Premium
August 29, 2025
PV Tech Premium hears from Renewable Properties and Silicon Ranch about the new 'start of construction' rules for US solar projects.
Premium
August 27, 2025
American Clean Power Association’s MJ Shiao assesses the state of US PV manufacturing in the wake of recent policy developments.
August 20, 2025
US microinverter manufacturer Enphase Energy has signed a safe harbour deal to secure residential solar tax credits, the second such deal the company has made this month.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines