The US is undergoing a boom in clean energy projects ahead of the introduction of tax credit deadlines, according to former US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

Speaking online at the Cleantech Conference 2026 in Brussels, she said, “Ironically, under this [fossil fuel promoting] administration, there’s been a boom in clean energy projects … developers are rushing quickly to be able to qualify for the tax credits, so those ‘cliffs’ really do kick people into action.”

The most critical upcoming US renewable energy tax credit deadline is 4 July, which is the hard construction commencement deadline for solar and wind developers to qualify for investment tax credits and production tax credits.

The deadline for foreign entity of concern rules, concerning supply chain and investment restrictions designed to protect national security and build domestic manufacturing, also begins on the same date, involving China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

Following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, new clean hydrogen facilities must begin construction by 1 January 2028, rather than the original 2033 deadline.

Under Section 45V of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), projects can claim up to $3/kg of hydrogen, with credit levels tied to carbon intensity calculated through a dedicated lifecycle emissions model.

Similarly 45Q tax credits for carbon capture, utilisation, and sequestration are fully available to facilities that begin construction before 1 January 2033. Credit levels for sequestration and utilisation have been levelled.

“If you moved dirt, if you have made significant purchases in furtherance of projects, you are safe harboured and will be eligible,” added Granholm.

The former secretary fired a broadside at the European audience, saying the EU reputation for permitting “is as bad as it is in the US” and whatever can be done to streamline applications would be incredibly important.

Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, agreed. “We’re not just aware of it, we’re also determined to … cut it in half, and half again.”

Granholm said there is more scope for partnering on ground-breaking technologies, drawing on shared knowledge in labs and universities.

“Hydrogen has sort of fallen into this no man’s land, but there was a lot of work being done before and the ability to work on those sort of breakthrough technologies together, and invest together, is I think, really very ripe.”

She added countries with demand-side strategies make it easier to attract companies.

“Being able to work on the demand side as well as the supply side is really important,” she said.

Reflecting on the IRA, Granholm said although there was an expectation most investments would continue, it didn’t implement projects in the ground fast enough.

President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law last July, which officially repealed the bulk of the original IRA’s clean energy subsidies and emissions-reduction programs.

“We had a few groundbreakings but not enough ribbon cuttings,” she said. “So the durability of the Act didn’t sink in, and we didn’t do a good enough job in advertising to people on the ground that this was coming.”