The Big Beautiful Bill: Planet-Saving Law or Overhyped Letdown?
Written by: Anh Vo
Whether your science teacher brought it up in class or you saw it trending online, the Big Beautiful Bill has been taking the media up by storm in the past few months. Issued, and finally passed under the presidency of Donald Trump, American citizens say it’s one of the boldest environmental laws in years and is something that could change the way that we deal with climate change. However, whether the bill benefits or hinders the efforts to slow the warming of our Earth is still up for debate.
While the BBB claims to support a cleaner future, many of its actions tell a different story. Firstly, the bill rolls back on several clean energy and incentives, such as multiple tax credits and rebates for solar panels and electric vehicles, formally introduced in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The removal of these policies will make it harder for working-class families to afford eco-friendly upgrades, thus slowing the transition towards a more eco-lifestyle.
In addition, contrary to the popular belief that the BBB increases job opportunities by fueling growth in renewable energy jobs, the BBB may actually threaten them. By cutting federal funding for clean energy projects, which effectively weakens environmental regulations, the bill also reduces the support systems that made green job creation possible. Experts warn that this could actually cause fewer employment opportunities in fields such as solar energy, electric vehicle production, and sustainable construction.
While the bill is definitely a clear attempt to step forward in the right direction, many environmental experts see it as a step backward. The bill fast-tracks oil and gas drilling permits for larger corporations in addition to cutting clean energy tax credits, which weakens the momentum set by the IRA. Its minuscule support for environmental efforts gets overshadowed by the backing for the fossil fuel industry. The bill fails to understand that the need for maintaining a stable economy should not be at the expense of cutting down on environmental efforts for a greener earth. Furthermore, the BBB strips down environmental regulations, making it easier for companies to pollute without consequence. Most funding benefits large companies with polluting track records, while environmental justice efforts are largely left out. These loopholes allow large corporations to label themselves “clean” without initiating large-scale changes to manufacturing or business.
In sum, while it includes some positive steps, like job creation and limited clean energy investment, the bill ultimately prioritizes industry and economy over the environment, offering more promises than progress. While it is a clear attempt to solve the rising issue of climate change, it definitely has its own loopholes and issues that need to be addressed.