Welcome to The Strawman, the daily climate newsletter that’s like a solar panel for your brain—efficient, renewable, and occasionally overheated by politics. Today, we’re looking at the awkward situation where Republican lawmakers are cashing in on green energy investments while their leader wants to hit the brakes.

Red States, Green Dollars

Republican-led states have been raking in cash from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—a cool $130bn, to be precise. From solar farms in Iowa to EV battery plants in South Carolina, the money’s been pouring in like a summer downpour. But here's the twist: the very politicians representing these districts are the ones tasked with dismantling the IRA. It's like biting the hand that feeds you... and then realising it's holding a big bag of cash.

The Trump Effect: Cut or Keep?

Donald Trump has vowed to “terminate” the IRA, calling it a gift to Wall Street and China. But with a razor-thin Republican majority in Congress, lawmakers have to decide whether to follow Trump’s lead or listen to their constituents—many of whom are benefiting from the IRA’s job-creating, economy-boosting effects. Some are already looking for a middle ground. Kansas Representative Ron Estes is advocating for a “scalpel” approach—keeping some credits while slashing others—while Indiana’s Marlin Stutzman wants to protect companies that have built their business models around the subsidies.

Renewables on the Chopping Block

Uncertainty over the IRA’s future is already putting the brakes on renewable energy investments. Even though the act has attracted more than $490bn nationwide, companies are holding back on new projects until they know whether the subsidies will stick around. Regulatory uncertainty, as energy lawyer Marcia Hook put it, is “unhelpful” for business—kind of like trying to drive cross-country with a GPS that keeps rerouting.

Takeaway:

Republicans now face a classic “money or morals” dilemma. Do they support their districts’ economic windfall or fall in line with Trump’s anti-green agenda? With billions of dollars—and countless jobs—on the line, expect some serious political gymnastics in the months ahead.