An analysis reveals that recent rollbacks in U.S. federal support have led to the cancellation of large-scale solar, wind, and battery projects, with significant economic and employment losses amid rising electricity demand.
The Trump administration’s retreat from clean energy support has now wiped out almost 470,000 jobs and $68.2 billion in private investment across the US, according to a new analysis by the business group E2 and BW Research.
The report examines 216 large-scale manufacturing and power projects that have been cancelled, closed or reduced since January 2025, and argues that the damage extends well beyond the headline figures. E2 says the scrapped developments would have added more than $90 billion to GDP during construction and a further $55 billion a year once operational, while also generating billions in wages, tax receipts and local spending.
The findings come as electricity demand rises sharply, driven by data centres, electrification and new industrial build-out. Yet the projects abandoned or downsized since the start of the year include around 10GW of solar, 3.75GW of wind and 9GW of battery storage capacity, enough to supply about 3 million homes, the group said.
E2 executive director Bob Keefe said the numbers showed the economic cost of making clean energy harder to build. In comments accompanying the report, he said the losses covered not only jobs and investment, but also power supply and local revenues. BW Research Partnership chief executive Phil Jordan added that clean energy has been a major economic driver for the past decade and that current labour data in the energy sector matters more than ever.
The bulk of the job losses are concentrated in specific segments. Battery storage accounts for the largest hit to construction employment, followed by solar and electric vehicle projects. In the longer term, EV manufacturing represents by far the biggest permanent employment loss, with nearly 255,000 jobs no longer expected to materialise, according to the report.
E2 has tracked a steady deterioration through 2025 as federal policy turned against the sector. Its earlier updates showed nearly $8 billion withdrawn in the first quarter, more than $14 billion by April, and over $22 billion by the end of June. By the close of the year, the group said cancellations had reached more than $28.7 billion, with a substantial share of the losses in Republican-held congressional districts.
The latest report blames the shift in part on the rollback of tax incentives and broader federal actions that have slowed solar, wind, battery storage and offshore wind development. It also says the fallout is being felt in supplier networks, construction trades and the small businesses that would have served the projects.
For industrial decarbonisation, the warning is straightforward: policy instability is not only delaying emissions-reducing infrastructure, it is also pushing capital, jobs and manufacturing capacity out of the market just as demand for cleaner power is accelerating.
- https://electrek.co/2026/07/09/trump-clean-energy-rollbacks-erase-68b-in-us-investment/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://e2.org/releases/companies-cancel-4-4-billion-in-clean-energy-projects-28-billion-30k-jobs-lost-in-2025/ – In 2025, businesses canceled, closed, and scaled back over $4.4 billion worth of large-scale factories and clean energy projects, resulting in nearly 30,000 job losses. This brings the total value of canceled projects to over $28.7 billion for the year. The cancellations predominantly affected Republican-held congressional districts, with $16.9 billion in investments and almost 22,000 jobs lost in these areas. The report highlights the heightened uncertainty among manufacturers and investors regarding the long-term U.S. policy landscape, leading to reversed plans and economic setbacks for communities relying on these projects.
- https://e2.org/releases/december-2025-cleaneconomyworks-analysis/ – In December 2025, companies abandoned $5.1 billion in large-scale factories and clean energy projects, capping a turbulent year for the sector that saw nearly $35 billion in investments disappear along with more than 38,000 current and future jobs. Battery and EV projects accounted for a majority of the abandoned plans in December; SK On drew back $2.8 billion and 3,300 jobs in Tennessee, while Ford cancelled a manufacturing plant in Ohio as it continues to scale back and restructure its electric vehicle facilities.
- https://e2.org/releases/e2-companies-cancel-1-6-billion-in-clean-energy-projects-in-sept-over-24-billion-in-2025/ – In September 2025, businesses canceled, closed, and scaled back nearly $1.6 billion worth of large-scale factories and clean energy projects, bringing the total cost of canceled projects in the private sector to over $24 billion for the year. The cancellations predominantly affected Republican-held congressional districts, with $12.4 billion in investments and 15,000 jobs lost in these areas. The report underscores the heightened uncertainty among manufacturers and investors regarding the long-term U.S. policy landscape, leading to reversed plans and economic setbacks for communities relying on these projects.
- https://e2.org/releases/march-clean-economy-works-update/ – In the first three months of 2025, nearly $8 billion in investments and 16 new large-scale factories and other projects were canceled, closed, or downsized, amid escalating market uncertainty and as Congress began debating the repeal of tax credits and other incentives. The $7.9 billion in investments withdrawn since January are more than three times the total investments canceled over the previous 30 months. Despite these setbacks, companies continued to invest in the potential of America’s clean economy, announcing more than $1.6 billion in investments for new solar, EV, and grid and transmission equipment factories across six states in March.
- https://e2.org/releases/april-2025-clean-economy-works/ – Since January 2025, businesses canceled or downsized more than $14 billion in investments and 10,000 new jobs in clean energy and clean vehicle factories, amid rising fears over the future of federal clean energy tax credits and policy. In April alone, companies canceled $4.5 billion in investments in new battery, electric vehicle, and wind projects in advance of the U.S. Congress’s consideration of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ The report highlights the impact of policy uncertainty on the clean energy sector and the broader economy.
- https://e2.org/releases/june-25-clean-economy-works/ – In the first half of 2025, businesses canceled, closed, and scaled back more than $22 billion worth of new factories and clean energy projects, with $6.7 billion canceled in June alone. The cancellations predominantly affected Republican-held congressional districts, with $11.7 billion in investments and 11,700 jobs lost in these areas. The report underscores the impact of policy uncertainty on the clean energy sector and the broader economy, highlighting the need for stable and supportive policies to foster growth and investment in clean energy.
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The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article was published on July 9, 2026, and references a report released on the same date. The information appears current and not recycled from older sources. However, the analysis is based on data from earlier in the year, which may affect the freshness of the reported figures.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from E2 Executive Director Bob Keefe and BW Research Partnership CEO Phil Jordan. While these quotes are attributed, they cannot be independently verified through other sources, raising concerns about their authenticity.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article originates from Electrek, a publication known for its focus on electric vehicles and clean energy. While Electrek is reputable within its niche, it is not a major news organisation, which may affect the perceived reliability of the source.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about job losses and investment cancellations align with reports from other sources, such as E2’s own analysis and similar findings from the Environmental Defense Fund. However, the exact figures and projections may vary between sources, and the article lacks independent verification of some claims.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents claims about significant job losses and investment cancellations in the clean energy sector due to policy changes. While some figures align with other reports, the reliance on sources with vested interests and the lack of independent verification raise concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information. The freshness of the data is also questionable, as it is based on earlier analyses. Given these issues, the content does not meet the necessary standards for publication under our editorial indemnity.
