Midterm energy policy roadmap
Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) are introducing a bill today, the “Energy Bills Relief Act,” that would reverse the GOP megalaw’s slashing of Biden-era clean energy tax credits.
Though the legislation has little chance of becoming law for the remainder of Trump’s second term, it boasts at least 118 Democratic co-sponsors so far — representing more than half of all Democrats in the House.
The legislation’s introduction comes as electricity costs are rising and Americans are facing higher prices due to war with Iran. With Democrats homing in on their midterm messaging on energy, Casten told Pavan he hopes the legislation is “a good messaging bill,” but “more importantly, it’s good policy.”
In addition to restoring clean energy tax credits rolled back in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Casten and Levin’s bill would encourage the Interior Department and U.S. Forest Service to permit wind, solar and geothermal projects on public lands. The bill, which is largely clean energy-focused, would also make sure facilities like data centers pay their own electricity costs. It would also reward utilities that generate cost-savings for users.
“I think it’s a message that resonates with people across the caucus and frankly should resonate with Republicans as well,” Casten told Pavan.
Casten said the bill would not have much of an impact on oil and gas projects, referring to the proposal as “all of the above in the sense that it’s saying, ‘We’re not going to pick winners.’”
Though some members of Democratic leadership are currently backing the legislation, so far there is one notable absence: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and assistant Democratic leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), though, are co-sponsors.
Casten and Levin co-chair the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Clean Energy Development Task Force. The coalition has been seeking out ways to find bipartisan energy initiatives for Democrats to look at in the coming years.
Over in the Senate: Not to be left behind, Senate Democrats are looking to call attention to rising prices ahead of the midterms too, our Amelia Davidson reports.
“Lowering costs will remain our North Star all year long. Donald Trump might think affordability is a hoax, he might be fixated on foreign wars, but Democrats understand that the cost of living is the number one issue on people’s minds,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday.
This week, Senate Democrats put energy in the spotlight by releasing a report on rising energy costs and hosting a roundtable focused on clean energy. The party has taken similar actions in the past months focused on housing and food prices.
Schumer also said that Democrats will announce “a strong legislative agenda” on energy prices next week at an event in collaboration with the League of Conservation Voters.
About those utility costs: A J.D. Power analysis released Tuesday found that the average American household paid 7 percent more in utility bills in 2025 compared to 2024. Gas utility bills, in particular, spiked by 13 percent last year.