President Donald Trump’s contempt for renewable energy seems to stem largely from a personal grudge over wind turbines near his golf resort in Scotland. But his frequent rants about that subject, as well as his false claims about the efficiency of wind and solar energy, should have no bearing on how congressional Republicans — including Hampton Roads’ Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman — vote on the future of clean energy credits.

In their proposed budget, GOP leaders seek to eliminate the tax credits enacted during the Biden administration as part of the successful Inflation Reduction Act. The tax credits, glibly dismissed by Trump as part of “a Green Deal scam,” have spurred investment in wind and solar projects and, in turn, generated jobs, bolstered the economy, combated climate change and strengthened national security.

Kiggans, who serves the coastal communities of Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore as well as Suffolk and part of Chesapeake from the 2nd Congressional District, knows precisely what’s a stake here. Although she joined other Republicans in opposing some provisions of IRA, she recognized the value of fostering renewable energy projects in the commonwealth — and especially in Hampton Roads.

In testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee last month, Kiggans urged protection of the tax credits during budget deliberations, pointing out that over $445 million in IRA-supported investments have been made in Virginia so far. The credits, as well as other federal programs, are expected to add $37 billion to the state’s economy by 2035.

“I have seen the benefits of clean energy firsthand again in my district through investments in offshore wind, which has not only brought significant economic gains and job growth but is benefiting our United States Navy bases,” Kiggans said.

A wind farm 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, the largest in the country, is slated for completion this year. Offshore turbines are expected to provide enough power for 660,000 houses and, critically, modernize the power grid at Naval Station Oceana.

In Chesapeake, the LS GreenLink project is bringing close to $700 million in investment and creating hundreds of jobs through its submarine cable manufacturing facility, positioning our region — rich with the Port of Virginia, universities and a skilled workforce — as a major clean tech corridor.

Solar is also growing here and across Virginia. Statewide, solar has created nearly 5,000 jobs and $7 billion in investments.

Eliminating the IRA tax credits now would raise electric bills and jeopardize over 3,100 jobs expected to be created in the commonwealth by 2040, according Aurora Energy Research, an analytics firm monitoring the energy market.

In her testimony and in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson signed by over a dozen fellow members of Congress, Kiggans noted that these tax credits have existed in some form since the George W. Bush administration and have repeatedly won bipartisan support. The beneficiaries include rock-solid-red Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma and Kansas, the nation’s largest wind-producing states. Why would Republicans in Congress seek to harm their own constituents by killing incentives for more wind and solar?

Clean energy has become a punching bag for culture warriors only in the past few years. But their “if my political enemy is for it, then I’m against it” approach to leadership is simply not good government.

Renewables now supply a little more than one-fifth of the nation’s power, and — contrary to Trump’s claims — wind and solar are efficient, costing up to 60% less than electricity from natural gas and coal. And clean energy, although not totally clean yet, is far less damaging to the environment than fossil fuels.

America’s ability to power its economy and its high quality of life in the future depends in large measure on renewables. Wind and solar have been part of the GOP’s all-of-the-above energy approach for decades, and Republicans should stand firm on that principle.

Stifling the growth of clean energy now, at a critical stage of development, would be petty, foolhardy and destructive.