On March 25, 2020, the U.S. Senate reached an agreement on a $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill, the largest of its kind in U.S. history.[1] However, the package does not include the tax credit extensions and direct pay provisions lobbied for by wind and solar industries to help them withstand the supply-chain and economic disruptions caused by the global crisis.

Prior to the agreement on the stimulus bill, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) warned that a failure to pass provisions for tax credit extensions and direct pay provisions could threaten up to $43 billion in investments.[2] The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has warned that tens of thousands of solar jobs may be at risk from the coronavirus pandemic's economic effects.[3] To be eligible for the full PTC, wind projects must be completed by the end of 2020 and many U.S. projects are at risk of missing this deadline due to disruptions to the supply chain. Solar companies are also under pressure to lock in delivery and possession of key equipment by mid-April to assure they comply with the 5% safe-harbor provisions of the ITC to receive the full credit. In response to the stimulus bill, AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan released a statement that "while [AWEA is] disappointed clean energy sector relief did not make it into the phase three stimulus package, [AWEA] will continue working with Congress and other renewable energy leaders to find solutions to the specific challenges COVID-19 is causing our members."[4]

[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/25/trump-senate-coronavirus-economic-stimulus-2-trillion/

[2] https://www.awea.org/resources/news/2020/american-wind-energy-association-releases-covid-19

[3] https://www.seia.org/coronavirus-information-resources

[4] https://www.awea.org/resources/news/2020/american-wind-energy-association-statement-on-the