Department of Energy cuts $3.7 billion in clean energy grants
Share this @internewscast.com

The grants were largely awarded during former President Joe Biden’s last few months in the White House.

WASHINGTON — On Friday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced the cancellation of nearly $4 billion worth of project grants, delivering a significant setback to efforts aimed at clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. during President Donald Trump’s tenure.

These grants, mainly distributed in the closing months of President Joe Biden’s term, were intended for initiatives focused on capturing and storing carbon emissions underground. The projects also extended to improving cleaner cement production, natural gas, and other related technologies.

Among the 24 rescinded awards were $500 million for Heidelberg Materials US, Inc., $375 million for Eastman Chemical Company, $95 million for Nevada Gold Mines, LLC, and $270 million for Sutter CCUS. A list from the Department of Energy showed these details, with Sublime Systems expressing their “surprise and disappointment” after losing an $87 million grant.

“Today’s action is bad for U.S. competitiveness in the global market and also directly contradictory to the administration’s stated goals of supporting energy production and environmental innovation,” said Conrad Schneider, a senior director at the Clean Air Task Force. It “undercuts U.S. competitiveness at a time when there is a growing global market for cleaner industrial products and technologies.”

The news was a swift follow-up to plans the Energy Department announced earlier this month to review 179 funded projects, totaling over $15 billion, that were awarded by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations created under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.

It is part of Wright’s pledge to ensure “responsible” spending — aligning with the government’s broader efficiency and cost-cutting measures, such as those recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency, which has significantly impacted federal research, workers and agencies.

“While the previous administration failed to conduct a thorough financial review before signing away billions of taxpayer dollars, the Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment,” Wright said in Friday’s statement.

Moreover, the announcement marks the latest of the administration’s attacks on clean energy, broadly, and its effort to slash federal support for projects addressing climate change.

The Trump administration has taken an ax to Biden-era environmental ambitions, rolled back landmark regulations, withdrawn climate project funding, and instead bolstered support for oil and gas production in the name of an “American energy dominance” agenda.

Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, called the news “shortsighted.”

Carbon capture has been a controversial climate solution, as skeptics say it enables the continued burning of fossil fuels oil, coal and natural gas that emit planet-warming greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide — and distracts from the need to cut ties with those energy sources altogether. Though investment in the technology has grown, it also remains challenging to scale.

Industry decries the news

Organizations quickly decried the secretary’s actions, stressing that the cancelations don’t align with the administration’s goals to bolster domestic manufacturing or energy independence.

Jessie Stolark, the executive director of the nonpartisan Carbon Capture Coalition, said the news “is a major step backward” for carbon management technologies, which are “crucial to meeting America’s growing demand for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.”

“These projects are not just reducing pollution, they are keeping the U.S. on the cutting edge of manufacturing technology,” said Mike Williams, senior fellow on the energy and environment team at public policy and advocacy group the Center for American Progress. “Canceling these important projects will raise energy prices for consumers and sacrifice thousands of high-quality union jobs, all because the president wants to curry favor with Big Oil.”

Evan Gillespie, partner at decarbonization organization, Industrious Labs, said the move dismantles the economy and the future of American manufacturing and its workforce.

“Killing these projects means more emissions, more pollution, and more people getting sick,” he said.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Paraguayan Olympic swimmer Luana Alonso fires back at country's officials over Olympic Village exit

Paraguayan Olympian Swimmer Luana Alonso Criticizes Officials for Being Removed from Olympic Village

Paraguayan Olympic swimmer Luana Alonso has responded firmly to allegations from her…
SpaceX's Musk threatens to decommission Dragon capsule amid fight with Trump

Elon Musk Plans to Retire Dragon Capsule in Ongoing Dispute with Trump

Trump suggested the possibility of cutting government contracts awarded to Musk’s SpaceX…
FBI thwarts teen's alleged 'serious' mall attack plot involving explosives, gunfire

FBI Foils Teen’s Alleged Plan for ‘Severe’ Mall Attack Using Bombs and Gunfire

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The FBI, along with…
US Marshals track down family massacre suspect who allegedly fled to vacation hot spot

US Marshals Capture Suspect in Family Massacre Who Escaped to Popular Vacation Destination

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The U.S. Marshals Service…
Grandma's recipes, mom's love inspire Indian fast-casual spot

Inspiration from Grandma’s Kitchen and Mom’s Love Ignites New Indian Fast-Casual Spot

NEW YORK — Inday is an Indian-American, fast-casual dining spot with multiple…
Karen Read defense expert challenges hit-and-run theory with collision tests showing key inconsistencies

Karen Read’s Defense Highlights Inconsistencies in Hit-and-Run Theory with New Collision Test Evidence

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Karen Read’s legal team…
Opposition to oil drilling off Florida's east coast unites both parties

Both Political Parties Come Together to Oppose Oil Drilling off Florida’s East Coast

The feds are considering opening up nearly all of U.S. coastline to…
San Diego authorities arrest 3 noncitizens allegedly involved in transporting more than $5M worth of meth

San Diego Officials Detain 3 Foreign Nationals Suspected of Smuggling Over $5 Million in Meth

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Federal and local authorities…
How NYC is stepping up to stop attacks on Jews before they happen

NYC’s Proactive Measures to Prevent Anti-Semitic Attacks

They were young and idealistic, and devoted their lives to peace. Yaron…
Russia vows to repair planes damaged by Ukraine in massive drone attack, claims they were 'not destroyed'

Russia Pledges to Fix Planes Damaged by Ukraine’s Large-Scale Drone Strike, Insists They Are ‘Intact’

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! On Thursday, Russia committed…
Marcus Bausley appears in court, South Side domestic violence murder of Teone Jones highlights troubling trend in Cook County

Marcus Bausley Court Appearance: South Side Domestic Violence Case of Teone Jones Sheds Light on Troubling Cook County Trend

CHICAGO (WLS) — A mother’s heartbreak and fury over her daughter’s murder…
IDF Arming ISIS-Linked Groups in Gaza

Claims Surface Regarding IDF Supplying ISIS-Linked Groups in Gaza

On June 5, 2025, Avigdor Lieberman, head of Israel’s conservative Yisrael Beiteinu…