The Department of Energy announced that it was terminating awards for more than 200 projects, saving taxpayers more than $7.5 billion.
Of the 321 awards terminated, 26% were awarded between Election Day and Inauguration Day and valued at over $3.1 billion.
“Following a thorough, individualized financial review, DOE determined that these projects did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs, were not economically viable, and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars,” the DOE explained in a statement.
“On day one, the Energy Department began the critical task of reviewing billions of dollars in financial awards, many rushed through in the final months of the Biden administration with inadequate documentation by any reasonable business standard,” Secretary Chris Wright said. “President Trump promised to protect taxpayer dollars and expand America’s supply of affordable, reliable, and secure energy. Today’s cancellation’s deliver on that commitment. Rest assured, the Energy Department will continue reviewing awards to ensure that every dollar works for the American people.”
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought said the “Green New Scam” funding sought to “fuel the Left’s climate agenda” in 16 states.
In July, President Donald Trump issued an executive order demanding the end of green energy subsidies, condemning the dependence of wind and solar facilities on foreign adversarial supply chains.
“For too long, the Federal Government has forced American taxpayers to subsidize expensive and unreliable energy sources like wind and solar,” the order says. “The proliferation of these projects displaces affordable, reliable, dispatchable domestic energy sources, compromises our electric grid, and denigrates the beauty of our Nation’s natural landscape.”
