WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump governance is rescinding โnearly $8 billion โฃin funding for clean energy projects, targeting initiatives in 16 states, the Department ofโข Energy announced โThursday. The move, impacting grantsโ awarded under the โฃ2022 climate law signed by President Biden, represents a significant rollback of federal investment in green technology andโข fuels ongoing efforts to dismantle Obama-era climate policies.
The cuts affect projects acrossโ the country, with recipients now having 30 days to appeal the DOE’s decision. This action follows the administration’s broader targeting of climate programs and clean energy grants, includingโ the recent rescission of $13 billion previously allocated for similar initiatives. The administration argues these regulations โare unjustifiedโค and hinder economic growth, while critics contend the cuts will raise energy costs and stifle innovation.
Awardees were selected from a pool of applicants and were notified of the funding terminations Thursday. The DOE did not promptly specify the criteria used to select the 16 โstates affected, prompting questions from reporters at the White House, which the President โคdeclined to answer.
“This is yet another blow by the Trump administration against innovative technology, jobs and the clean energyโฃ needed to meet skyrocketing demand,” said jackie Wong, โaโ senior vice president at NRDC. โข
Conradโข Schneider, seniorโ director at theโ Clean Air Task Force, stated โthe decision “pulls the rug out”โฃ from communities and workers relying on the projects and “weakens the U.S.’s position in the global marketplace” for energy technologies.
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