Dept of Energy Chris Wright backs long-term tax credits for nuclear, geothermal

By Kelsey Tamborrino, PoliticoPro 06/09/2025 07:01 PM EDT

Energy Secretary Chris Wright called on lawmakers Monday to keep tax incentives for nuclear and geothermal energy in place through 2031 — marking a direct request from a key Trump administration official to lawmakers as they reconsider cuts sought by House Republicans to energy incentives enacted by Democrats.

"My recommendation has been to leave behind the equivalent of the wind and solar tax credits — through if you start construction by 2031, for nuclear fission and fusion and geothermal," Wright said. Wright spoke at the Energy Imperatives Summit event held in Washington DC June 9-10.

Wright has previously urged the preservation of “every incentive we can get from the federal government” to help grow the nascent geothermal and nuclear technologies. But his new comments ramp up the pressure on the GOP as senators weigh the future of the energy tax incentives under Democrats' climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act.

House Republicans passed legislation last month that would broadly curtail the energy incentives, except those for nuclear, after a concerted lobbying campaign from several Republicans. Wright phoned into a meeting ahead of their vote on that legislation.

Wright told Monday's event that he considers himself a "free market guy" and broadly opposes "virtually all of the energy tax credits." But he suggested additional support for nuclear energy and geothermal is necessary to help make those sources cost-competitive.

"Those are three energy sources that can provide energy 24/7, 365 [days]," he said. "And if you do the math, they have a pathway to become completely cost-competitive. They're not going to start that way, but they can get there."

Some Republicans have voiced support for baseload energy sources and newer technologies like small modular nuclear reactors and geothermal, though they have stated their desire to phase out incentives for more intermittent power sources like solar and wind power.

https://www.eenews.net/articles/wright-backs-long-term-tax-credits-for-nuclear-geothermal/