Solar Stocks Plunge as Senate Seeks Early End to Key Green Energy Tax Credits

Solar energy companies saw their stocks tumble on Tuesday following a draft Senate proposal that would accelerate the expiration of wind and solar tax credits—years ahead of the current schedule. The news has rattled investors and sent shockwaves through the renewable energy sector, raising fears of layoffs, bankruptcies, and a major disruption in project development.

Shares of Sunrun (RUN), the largest residential solar installer in the United States, collapsed over 40%, while SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) plummeted more than 30%, and Enphase Energy (ENPH) fell nearly 25%. These losses came amid broader market gains, highlighting the severity of the impact specific to clean energy firms.

The Senate’s version of the Trump administration’s new tax bill proposes sunsetting tax incentives for wind and solar by 2028, four years earlier than under current law, which sets the expiration for 2032. Notably, the bill preserves tax breaks for other energy sources—such as hydropower, geothermal, and nuclear—through 2036, raising concerns about an uneven playing field.

The proposal caught investors off guard, especially after recent lobbying efforts suggested that the Senate might resist the aggressive clean energy rollbacks passed by the House in May. Instead, the Senate draft goes even further in some areas, phasing down incentives as early as 2026.

While the bill does include a provision allowing the residential solar credit to expire 180 days after enactment rather than at the end of 2025, analysts say the adjustment is too minor to ease investor fears.

Some early fallout is already visible. Solar financing firm Mosaic recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and residential solar provider Sunnova Energy (NOVA) has begun restructuring efforts. Analysts expect more turbulence ahead if the bill is passed in its current form.

The sector has faced multiple headwinds in 2025, including high interest rates that make financing large-scale projects more expensive. President Trump’s return to office has also stoked concerns, with his administration pivoting sharply away from green initiatives and leaning into fossil fuel policies.

Still, not all recent policy news has been negative. The Department of Commerce recently announced tariffs exceeding 3,500% on solar panel imports from Southeast Asian countries—a move designed to bolster domestic manufacturing. However, these protectionist policies may not be enough to offset the demand shock from reduced federal support.

Despite a brief rally earlier this year driven by hopes for bipartisan support of clean energy, the Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) is now down more than 4% year to date, underscoring the sector’s fragility.

As the tax bill moves forward, investors and industry leaders will be watching closely. Without significant changes, the proposed legislation could mark a dramatic shift in the trajectory of America’s clean energy ambitions.

Zeo Energy to Acquire Heliogen, Forming a Comprehensive Clean Energy Platform

Key Points:
– Zeo to acquire Heliogen in an all-stock deal, expanding its clean energy reach.
– Adds long-duration storage, targeting sectors like data centers and AI.
– Boosts efficiency and financing for large-scale energy projects.

In a move that underscores the accelerating convergence of solar energy and long-duration storage solutions, Zeo Energy Corp. (Nasdaq: ZEO) has announced its acquisition of Heliogen, Inc. (OTCQX: HLGN) in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $10 million. The deal aims to create a unified clean energy platform that serves residential, commercial, and utility-scale markets across the U.S. and beyond.

Zeo Energy, a Florida-based provider of residential solar and energy efficiency services, will integrate Heliogen’s advanced storage technologies to expand into commercial and industrial-scale clean energy applications. These include mission-critical sectors such as data centers, AI infrastructure, and cloud computing facilities—markets increasingly in need of reliable, scalable, and cost-effective energy solutions.

The acquisition represents the outcome of Heliogen’s comprehensive strategic alternatives review and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals. With the deal’s completion, Heliogen’s shareholders will receive Zeo Class A common stock and the combined entity will retain key technical personnel to drive innovation across new market segments.

This transaction marks a strategic pivot for Zeo, positioning it as a more vertically integrated energy provider with diversified revenue streams and operational reach. The company expects to streamline corporate overhead, broaden its market appeal, and strengthen its balance sheet with the addition of Heliogen’s intellectual property and cash reserves.

Zeo also plans to leverage its affiliated financing arm—responsible for over $44 million in clean energy tax equity financing to date—to support future utility-scale and long-duration projects. This added financing capacity may be particularly beneficial as demand surges for low-carbon infrastructure driven by policy incentives, energy cost volatility, and technological adoption.

For investors, the combined company represents a multi-faceted play on the growing shift toward decarbonization and distributed energy. While Zeo brings an established presence in high-growth residential markets, Heliogen offers utility-grade thermal storage and dispatchable energy systems that address one of the most critical gaps in the clean energy transition: 24/7 reliability.

Both boards have unanimously approved the transaction, and early support from a significant portion of Heliogen’s shareholders has added momentum to the closing process. Once finalized, the deal is expected to create a scalable clean energy company well-positioned to meet rising demand across a broad spectrum of energy users.

As the energy landscape continues to evolve, the Zeo–Heliogen merger reflects a broader industry trend toward integrated platforms capable of delivering end-to-end clean energy solutions—from rooftop solar panels to large-scale grid storage.

Tesla’s Energy Business: The Next Big Growth Driver?

As Tesla continues to dominate headlines with its electric vehicles and ambitious plans for autonomous driving, a less-discussed segment of the company is quietly becoming a potential game-changer. Tesla’s energy business, particularly its energy storage division, is showing signs of becoming a major contributor to the company’s bottom line and future growth prospects.

In a recent production and delivery report, Tesla revealed that it had deployed a record-breaking 9.4 GWh (gigawatt hours) of battery energy storage in the second quarter of 2024. This figure represents more than double the amount deployed in the first quarter, signaling explosive growth in this sector.

Tesla’s energy storage solutions range from residential Powerwall units to utility-scale Megapack installations. A single Powerwall can store enough energy to power a small home for a day, while a Megapack installation boasts the capacity to provide electricity to 3,600 homes for an hour. This scalability allows Tesla to cater to a wide range of customers, from individual homeowners to large utility companies and municipalities.

The financial performance of Tesla’s energy business is equally impressive. In the first quarter of 2024, the segment generated $1.6 billion in revenue and $403 million in gross profit. What’s particularly noteworthy is the gross margin of 24.6%, significantly higher than Tesla’s overall gross margin of 17.4% for the same period. This robust profitability comes at a crucial time for Tesla, as its automotive business faces margin pressure due to recent price cuts aimed at stimulating demand.

Wall Street is taking notice of this shift. Adam Jonas, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, dubbed the Q2 energy deployment figures a “show stealer” and valued Tesla Energy at $36 per Tesla share, or approximately $130 billion. This valuation suggests that the energy business could be a substantial component of Tesla’s market capitalization in the future.

The growth potential for Tesla’s energy storage business is closely tied to broader technological and infrastructure trends. The increasing adoption of artificial intelligence and the subsequent need for more data centers are expected to drive a “multigenerational increase in energy demand,” according to Jonas. This surge in electricity needs, coupled with the ongoing transition to renewable energy sources, positions Tesla’s energy storage solutions as a critical component of future power grids.

Moreover, the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States is likely to accelerate investments in grid infrastructure, potentially creating more opportunities for Tesla’s energy products. As utilities and businesses look to modernize and stabilize the power grid, Tesla’s Megapack installations could play a crucial role in load balancing and ensuring reliable power supply.

While much of the investor focus has been on Tesla’s automotive innovations, including the anticipated launch of a lower-priced electric vehicle and the reveal of its robotaxi concept, the energy business could provide a significant upside surprise in upcoming earnings reports. This diversification of revenue streams may also help to stabilize Tesla’s financial performance, reducing its reliance on the cyclical automotive market.

It’s worth noting that Tesla’s energy business isn’t limited to storage solutions. The company also produces solar roof tiles and conventional solar panels, although these products have received less attention in recent years. As the energy storage business continues to grow, it may create synergies with Tesla’s solar products, offering customers comprehensive energy solutions.

As we approach Tesla’s Q2 earnings report in July 2024, investors and analysts will be keenly watching the performance of the energy storage segment. If the strong deployment figures translate into substantial revenue and profit growth, it could mark a turning point in how the market perceives Tesla – not just as an automaker, but as a diversified energy and technology company.

In conclusion, Tesla’s energy storage business is emerging as a powerful growth driver for the company. With its impressive profit margins, scalable solutions, and alignment with global energy trends, this segment could play a crucial role in Tesla’s future success and valuation. As the world continues its transition to sustainable energy, Tesla appears well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for advanced energy storage solutions.

Take a moment to take a look at Noble Capital Markets Research Analyst Mark Reichman’s coverage list for more emerging growth energy companies.