As the Trump administration continues to prioritize fossil fuels, concerns are growing over the abrupt termination of grants for two clean energy projects. The Department of Energy (DOE) has canceled two awards worth nearly $6.8 million to a nonprofit clean energy think tank, RMI, in Colorado. The grants, which aimed to reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions, have been deemed non-compliant with the administration’s objectives.
The terminated projects included a $5.3 million grant to retrofit low-income multifamily buildings in Massachusetts and California to demonstrate ways to reduce energy use and lower planet-warming emissions. The second grant, worth $1.5 million, was designed to assess business models for electric vehicle carsharing in US cities. According to RMI spokeswomen Dina Cappiello, the organizations had anticipated the termination of the EV carsharing viability work and had planned to use the remaining funding for the retrofitting project, which is set to finish in June.
The DOE’s decision has sent shockwaves through the clean energy sector, with many projects under review now in jeopardy. The Trump administration’s focus on fossil fuels, dubbed “drill, baby, drill,” has left many wondering about the future of clean energy initiatives. President Joe Biden, in his final days in office, had attempted to lock in a trajectory for reducing the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, but his administration’s efforts were halted by the Trump administration.
The list of clean energy projects under review, obtained by The Associated Press, includes wind, solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle infrastructure projects. Many of these projects were funded through the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law signed by Biden in 2021. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also terminated grant agreements worth $20 billion, financing clean energy and climate-friendly projects.
Reacting to the news, US Rep. Marcy Kaptur, an Ohio Democrat, expressed concerns about the long-term consequences of halting clean energy projects. “Halting clean energy projects will increase energy costs for families and businesses, and the Energy Department must carry out duly enacted spending laws,” Kaptur said. She emphasized the need for the Department of Energy to work with Congress to lower energy costs and create good-paying jobs.
RMI, which has received government contracts and grants under Republican and Democratic administrations since its founding in 1982, has spoken out against the actions of the Trump administration. “The current administration’s actions will slow and could eventually halt the many benefits of moving a clean energy agenda forward, such as lowering energy costs, making communities resilient, and creating jobs,” RMI’s Cappiello said.
The global energy landscape is marked by a shift towards renewable sources, with installation of renewable energy worldwide reaching a record high last year. The International Renewable Energy Agency reported that 92.5% of all new electricity brought online in 2024 came from the sun, wind, or other clean sources. China led the way, with nearly 64% of the new renewable electricity capacity installed in 2024. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, the abrupt termination of clean energy grants is a stark reminder of the need for continued investment in a sustainable future.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/news-today/trump-admin-cancels-clean-energy-grants-prioritizes-fossil-fuels-9912973/
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Publish Date: 2025-03-29 13:46:00
