When Congress benched clean energy, Americans got stuck paying more at the plate.
Babe Ruth once said, “Yesterday’s home runs won’t win today’s ball games.” My father repeated that advice to me growing up. It’s up there with Abraham Lincoln’s “This too shall pass.” Both are generally true in all circumstances—and incredibly adaptable.
Right now, they sum up what’s happening to electricity, heating, and overall energy costs across the United States.
It’s why the NRDC Action Fund is bringing Babe Ruth back—metaphorically—to make sure people know who was pitching and who was hitting when their Senators and Representatives voted for or against Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
We’re explaining it all through baseball metaphors—so grab your peanuts and Cracker Jacks.
The Setup: A Strong Start at Bat
In 2021 and 2022, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—two landmark pieces of legislation that jumpstarted clean-energy infrastructure and production across commercial, residential, and industrial sectors.
These laws included targeted tax credits to make upgrades affordable and necessary—especially as energy demand continues to rise.
The IRA alone was projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 42% by 2030 and create hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs[1].
It was a grand slam for climate action, economic growth, and energy affordability.
The Curveball: One Big Beautiful Bill
But in July 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—a sweeping reconciliation bill that reversed many of those gains. The bill:
- Accelerated the expiration of clean energy tax credits for solar, wind, EVs, and residential upgrades[2][3].
- Halted or jeopardized projects that were already 80% complete, including those in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio[4].
- Rolled back grid modernization and transmission funding, leaving states with less reliable infrastructure and higher energy prices during peak demand. [5].
These changes are already being felt. Electricity and heating bills are rising. Cars are more expensive. Projects are being paused or canceled. And American-made energy is being sidelined.
The Lineup: Who Voted for the Blackout
Let’s talk about the players. Senators and Representatives who voted for the OBBBA include:
- Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio) – whose yes vote threatens clean-energy jobs in Stark County, where workers like Greg Bambenek found stability through solar projects[6].
- Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07) – whose district saw 11,000 clean-energy jobs and average household savings of $400–$500 per year now at risk[6].
- Rep. Tom Barrett (MI-07) – Barrett’s support for OBBBA and the Trump administration’s clean-energy rollbacks is pushing Michigan electricity bills higher. Ratepayers are already facing increases around 2.8%, with some proposals that could raise residential bills by 13% or more when combined with other approved utility hikes.
- Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) – Lawler’s vote for OBBBA and the administration’s rollback of clean-energy investments are driving up costs for New Yorkers. In the Hudson Valley, electricity bills are already up by about $14 a month, and state regulators warn of more increases as federal funding is cut and projects are halted.
The NRDC Action Fund Campaign: Babe Ruth Steps Up
This October, the NRDC Action Fund is launching a multi-platform paid media campaign—digital, radio, and TV ads—grounded in baseball metaphors. Because when it comes to energy reliability and affordability, we’re keeping score.
We’re reminding people that:
- Clean energy was winning—lower bills, more jobs, less pollution.
- The OBBBA benched those wins—and the lawmakers who voted for it need to answer for the strikeouts.
- We’re not done fighting—it’s time to change the playbook. You can see examples of our campaign here[6] and join our activist efforts here[7].
The Bottom of the Ninth
This fall, your car is more expensive. Your heating and electricity bills are going up. And we’re spending more to stop American-made energy instead of expanding it.
Worst of all? Your baseball team might lose (mine already did—I’m an Atlanta fan).
But we’re not giving up. Because yesterday’s home runs won’t win today’s ball games—and if we want to make it to the World Series of clean energy, we’d better step up to the plate now.
References
[1] www.nrdc.org
[3] www.kirkland.com
[4] ProPublica | MSN
[5] Canary Media
[7] action.nrdc.org
