@Lakie7 what is going to occur is the energy credit will be applied first and then CTC. As you note these are non-refundable credits, so Line 22 can't be less than zero.
However, the additional child tax credit (which is a refundable credit) calculation is the LOWER of these three statements:
1) 15% of your earned incomes that exceeds $2500
2) $1700
3) $2000 per child less the CTC credit from line 19.
so if your concern is that your energy credit will 'squeeze out' CTC, you'll get the remaining credit on Line 28 as the "additional CTC"
