US COVID-19 stimulus package passes without solar ITC extension

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Image: bclinesmith.

Attempts have failed to include an extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit in a significant stimulus package the US has adopted to shelter the economy against the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

The stimulus package, valued at some US$2 trillion, was agreed early on Wednesday morning (25 March 2020) following days of negotiations between Republican and Democrat senators.

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

The full details of the package had yet to be disclosed at the time of publication but it is understood that Democrats did not succeed in their attempts to include provisions to extend the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC).

The solar ITC, a considerable boon for developers of solar in the US, began degressing from 1 January 2020 after previous attempts to secure an extension within a finance bill failed at the end of last year.

But the economic stimulus package, designed to support businesses and individuals in the US as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to wreak havoc on worldwide economies, represented another chance for politicians to revive the ITC.

Democrats led by speaker Nancy Pelosi were fighting to include such measures in the bill, leading to several standoffs in recent days and exhaustive negotiations to have taken place between the two main political parties in the US.

In a statement issued after the stimulus package was agreed, Abigail Ross Hopper, president and chief executive at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), acknowledged that there were several elements in the legislation that could support solar businesses and employees, pointing in particular to long-term unemployment insurance, business loans and employee protections.

“We will be working to help our members understand what resources are available to them as a result of this legislation and how they can use those resources to help get through this difficult time,” she said.

Ross Hopper did, however, once again note that the ongoing pandemic could result in the loss of as many as half of solar industry jobs in the US, equivalent to some 125,000 people. The warning echoed sentiments raised earlier this week, after more than 500 US-based solar companies co-signed a letter sent to US Congress.

“Congress can help stem this tide. Economic stimulus legislation can help our companies sustain families and invest tens of billions of dollars into the economy over the next couple of years. We remain committed to helping our economy recover from this pandemic,” Ross Hopper said.

“We fully expect to work with Congress on any broad economic stimulus package. This will ensure that when this awful chapter in America’s history comes to an end, the clean energy economy is well positioned to lead our nation’s economic recovery,” she added. 
 

More to follow…

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.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

Premium
September 16, 2025
At RE+, industry leaders pointed to the resilience of the US solar sector, despite challenges brought by the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' Act.
September 16, 2025
Two Wisconsin Republicans have introduced legislation to open access to community solar projects in the US state.
September 15, 2025
Sunrun has priced a securitisation of leases and power purchase agreements, taking its non-recourse debt capital raised in Q3 above US$1.5 billion. 
Premium
September 12, 2025
Vote Solar's Sean Garren tells PV Tech Premium that Georgia Power's latest IRP is 'skewed so heavily towards fossil fuels'.
September 11, 2025
Madison Energy Infrastructure has raised US$800 million to accelerate the deployment of clean energy assets across the US. 
Premium
September 11, 2025
PV CellTech USA: US cell manufacturer ES Foundry’s CEO Alex Zhu discusses his company's rapid ascent, strategic technology choices and the challenges of operating in a shifting policy environment.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

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
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA