At a May 28, 2026 public hearing, fuel producers, agricultural stakeholders, and environmental credit companies testified before the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), calling for targeted fixes to proposed regulations affecting clean fuel production tax credit under Section 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Section 45Z Credit).
The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS” or “Service”) recently released detailed guidance concerning the classification and treatment of Prohibited Foreign Entities (“PFEs”) as well as the application of the related Foreign Entity of Concern (“FEOC”) restrictions that were created in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA” or “Bill”).
Enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act and recently amended by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”), Section 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code offers a tax credit for the domestic production and sale of certain low-emission transportation fuels (“45Z Credit”). The 45Z Credit is worth $0.20 (or $1.00 for producers meeting prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements) per gallon of renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”), renewable natural gas (“RNG”), and certain other low-carbon fuels produced domestically and sold.
On October 29, 2025, Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee introduced H.R. 5862, the American Energy Independence and Affordability Act (the Bill). The legislation, introduced by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), would restore clean energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that were cut by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), passed earlier this year.
The Clean Fuels Credit, codified under 26 U.S. Code Section 45Z, has quickly become a central focus for businesses pursuing opportunities in the evolving energy sector. Designed to incentivize the production of cleaner transportation fuels, this credit not only benefits fuel producers but has also started attracting interest from companies seeking to purchase credits under the transferability provisions of 26 U.S. Code Section 6418. Initially introduced as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Clean Fuels Credit stands out as one of the few tax incentives that received an extension through 2029 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). As the regulatory landscape continues to shift, it is essential for companies to understand both the strategic advantages and the legal requirements associated with this incentive.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, provides for enhanced restrictions on entities claiming many of the renewable energy credits established under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). Namely, the bill prohibits foreign entities of concern (FEOCs), as well as domestic entities that are related to or otherwise engage in significant transactions with FEOCs, from claiming such credits. The credits that are subject to the new FEOC limitations under the bill include:
On July 4, 2025, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (the Act) was enacted. Several provisions of the Act will impact renewable energy projects and the tax credits generated by such projects. Such provisions include the accelerated termination for wind and solar credits, as well as restrictions with respect to foreign entities of concern. Most of the energy provisions of the Act will take effect beginning with the taxable year beginning after that date of enactment (i.e., the taxable year beginning January 1, 2026, for most taxpayers), although there are some deviations, as described below.
Under the Senate Finance Committee’s June 28th version of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill (the “Bill”), there are several limitations and requirements that would take effect based on the date a project begins construction. For solar and wind projects, unless construction begins prior to enactment of the Bill, the production tax credit and investment tax credit under section 45Y and 48E will terminate for projects that are placed in service after 2027. Additionally, certain restrictions on material assistance from prohibited foreign entities would apply to solar and wind projects which begin construction after June 16th and most other projects that begin construction after 2025. The provisions of the Bill are still being negotiated in the Senate. However, establishing the beginning of construction will almost certainly remain important for developers of renewable energy projects.
The Senate Finance Committee recently released its own draft of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (the Bill) previously passed by the House as H.R. 1. Both the House and Senate versions of the Bill impose restrictions on Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits based on “material assistance” from “Foreign Entities of Concern” (FEOCs). The House version lacked significant details on what “material assistance” was. The Senate Bill provides significant details on the structure and operation of the restrictions.
On June 16, 2025, the Senate Finance Committee released its version of the “One, Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) that would create a steep phase-out of renewable energy tax credits—notably, renewable energy companies would have to start construction on wind and solar projects before December 31, 2025, to receive 100% of the available tax credits. The reconciliation process is far from over, and there are further revisions expected to the text, but the Senate Finance Committee is the final committee in the Senate expected to release legislative text related to energy tax credits.
Its version of the bill includes the following provisions.