Trump’s Energy Department discovers $15 billion in wasteful Biden-era green energy grants under scrutiny as projects fail to deliver promised jobs and economic benefits.
Key Takeaways
- Energy Secretary Christopher Wright is conducting a comprehensive review of $15 billion in green initiative grants allocated during the Biden administration to 179 recipients
- Major corporations including ExxonMobil, BASF, Eastman Chemical, Cleveland-Cliffs, and Orsted are among the recipients under scrutiny
- The review focuses on whether these initiatives have fulfilled their promises of creating sustainable jobs
- The Energy Department is reassessing federal funds to align with national priorities that demand fiscal accountability
- Several Biden-era projects have already been rescinded as part of Trump’s broader effort to eliminate wasteful spending
Massive Green Energy Program Under Review
Energy Secretary Christopher Wright has launched a thorough investigation into more than $15 billion in grants and federal support awarded during the Biden administration for so-called green initiatives. The review targets 179 recipients who received taxpayer dollars for projects ranging from power grid upgrades to manufacturing energy technology. Many of these grants were distributed through Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure law, which Republicans consistently criticized as wasteful spending that would increase inflation rather than reduce it.
“The Biden administration spent money we didn’t have to pay for things we didn’t need,” Stated James Carter, director of the Center for American Prosperity at the America First Policy Institute.
The Energy Department’s review is part of President Trump’s broader strategy to eliminate wasteful spending and reduce federal bureaucracy. In Executive Order 14222, Trump specifically targeted discretionary spending through federal contracts and grants, directing government agencies to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently and effectively.
Corporate Recipients Face Scrutiny
Among the 179 recipients under review are major corporations that received substantial funding for green initiatives during the Biden administration. Companies like ExxonMobil, BASF, Eastman Chemical, Cleveland-Cliffs, and Orsted are now being required to justify their use of taxpayer dollars and demonstrate that their projects are delivering promised economic benefits. The review comes as Cleveland-Cliffs has already announced employment reductions, raising questions about whether these green initiatives are actually creating sustainable jobs.
“What we can share is that, as of October 2024, BASF has entered into a cooperative agreement with the DOE for our proposed low-carbon syngas project at our Freeport, Texas site. With this, we have started Phase 1 of our project: initial planning and analysis. Throughout the entire process BASF will collaborate with the DOE to develop the appropriate deliverables necessary to progress to the following phases,” Said Julia Arns
Danish wind energy company Orsted, which received a significant grant for offshore wind development, has indicated they’re aware of the ongoing review. “The DOE award is proceeding to schedule as we continue to develop the project. We’re aware that the program is currently under review, but there have been no changes to the award for Project Star at this time.”
Aligning with Trump’s Government Reform Agenda
This review of green energy grants is part of President Trump’s broader agenda to reform the federal government and eliminate wasteful spending. The administration has already taken significant steps in this direction, including Executive Order 14238, which “continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary.”
The Energy Department’s actions also reflect Trump’s Executive Order 14215, which ensures accountability for all federal agencies. This order requires agencies to justify their spending and demonstrate that taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently. In the case of these green energy grants, the Energy Department is requiring recipients to show that their projects are creating sustainable jobs and delivering economic benefits to American communities.
“President Donald Trump’s administration is deepening its review of more than $15 billion in grants and other support awarded by its predecessor for upgrading power grids and manufacturing energy technology,” reported Bloomberg News in its analysis of the Energy Department’s review Stated President Trump
Fiscal Responsibility and America First Energy Policy
The review of these green energy grants is consistent with the Trump administration’s America First energy policy, which prioritizes energy independence and economic growth over ideologically-driven green initiatives. Secretary Wright has emphasized that the Energy Department will continue to support projects that deliver real benefits to American workers and communities, but will not hesitate to rescind funding for projects that fail to meet these criteria.
The administration has already rescinded some Biden-era projects and is expected to redirect funds toward initiatives that promote American energy independence and economic growth. This shift in priorities reflects Trump’s commitment to putting American interests first and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are being used to benefit American workers and communities, not to advance a globalist green agenda that undermines American energy security.
