Biden’s Green New Scam: A bad deal for North Carolina
As originally published in the North State Journal on May 26th, 2025
North Carolinians understand the value of hard work and personal responsibility. From farming and manufacturing to small businesses and trucking, we’ve built strong communities without needing micromanagement from Washington.
Unfortunately, President Joe Biden’s so-called Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — passed with little conservative input — ignores those values. Instead of empowering families, it hands power to bureaucrats, rewards China and shifts the burden onto working Americans.
We call it what it is: Biden’s Green New Scam.
The centerpiece of Biden’s law — the $7,500 electric vehicle subsidy — might sound appealing in theory. In reality, it’s a luxury for a small percentage of Americans. Only about 4% own an electric vehicle (EV) today, and three-quarters say they aren’t considering one now or never plan to purchase an EV. That’s because these vehicles aren’t designed for the realities of life in North Carolina — whether it’s rural commutes, long hauls or hurricane evacuations.
Meanwhile, much of the money from these EV initiatives flows straight to Chinese companies, some with direct ties to human rights abuses. Instead of rebuilding American industries, Biden’s policies strengthen Beijing. Supporters of the failed Bidenomics theory point to new investments in clean energy. But not all investments are the same. Bloomberg reported on money flowing to joint ventures between U.S. and Chinese companies that allow China to steal American intellectual property and send our tax dollars overseas. That’s a policy failure ― and it’s not helping states like North Carolina.
Washington calls this progress. Around here, it feels like another broken promise.
North Carolina doesn’t need more bloated programs. We need what we know works: strong borders, fair trade deals, American-made energy and tax relief that lets families and businesses thrive.
However, as Congress repeals the Green New Scam, some bipartisan provisions that were lumped into the Inflation Reduction Act should be kept, to protect the more than 20 energy projects currently underway in North Carolina.
The 45X advanced manufacturing tax credit, which creates the incentive for companies to manufacture here in America, is a core part of an America-first trade policy. Recent Rainey Center polling found that 59% of voters support clean energy incentives, but only when the products are made in America, by American companies. Only 16% want these credits to end. However, voters don’t support tax credits going to foreign companies — these policies need to end.
Another key provision of the IRA that makes sense is technology-neutral tax credits. Rather than creating a system where the government picks winners, technology-neutral tax credits let carbon capture, geothermal and clean fossil fuels compete on the same level as solar and wind. A recent Clean Energy Buyers Association shows why: they find that full repeal of the technology-neutral investment and production tax credits would lead to an annual average yearly increase of more than $110 for annual electricity prices.
These provisions must be narrowed to ensure that only American companies benefit from them, saving billions in taxpayer money each year.
Biden’s Green New Scam may generate headlines in Washington, but for North Carolina, it’s a raw deal — one we cannot afford to ignore.
It’s time to stand up, push back and demand a future built on American strength, not government schemes and empty promises.