The US Department of Energy has canceled nearly $4 billion in clean energy project grants, dealining with the administration’s stated goals of supporting energy production and environmental innovation. The grants were awarded during President Joe Biden’s final months in office to capture carbon emissions, store them underground, and promote cleaner cement and natural gas.
The cancellations include projects worth $500 million from Heidelberg Materials US, Inc., $375 million from Eastman Chemical Company, and $95 million from Nevada Gold Mines, LLC. The move has been criticized by industry leaders, who argue that it undermines the country’s competitiveness in the global market for cleaner industrial products and technologies.
“Today’s action is bad for U.S. competitiveness and directly contradictory to the administration’s stated goals,” 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 decision marks another blow to clean energy efforts in the US, following previous cuts by the Trump administration. Industry leaders are warning that the cancellations will lead to higher energy prices, lost jobs, and increased pollution.
“This move dismantles the economy and the future of American manufacturing,” said Evan Gillespie, partner at decarbonization organization Industrious Labs. “Killing these projects means more emissions, more pollution, and more people getting sick.”
Source: https://apnews.com/article/climate-energy-projects-funding-canceled-cf3e9b5da749eb76a71c901ded20d711