Investment Tax Credits (“ITCs”) and Production Tax Credits (“PTCs”, and together with ITCs, “RETCs”) have existed for decades and reflect the U.S. government’s commitment to incentivizing clean energy solutions in industry and commerce. The availability of RETCs was most recently extended by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”), which fundamentally transformed policy in this space by tying such credits’ expiration to the U.S. reaching certain targets for greenhouse gas reductions. While the recent change in Executive Branch leadership casts doubt over the longevity of RETCs, a full repeal seems unlikely given the scope and scale of domestic projects which utilize and benefit from such credits. This article discusses how RETCs may benefit both buyers and sellers in an increasingly uncertain environment.
A Court Just Bought Your Clients More Time on Clean Energy Tax Credits Here’s How to Use It
Dominique Molina, CPA MST CTS
A federal district court just struck down an IRS rule that had been closing the door on a pretty compelling tax savings opportunity available to your clients today, the Section 48E Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit. The ruling, handed down on June 6, 2026, reinstated a key pathway that allows investors to lock in credit eligibility for large-scale wind and solar projects a pathway the IRS had tried to eliminate just last year. The window is not wide open. July 4, 2026 is still the critical deadline, and the government will almost certainly appeal. But for advisors who act quickly, this ruling creates a genuine, time-sensitive planning opportunity. Here is what you need to understand, and what you should be doing right now.
