DOE Slashes Crucial Grants for Manufacturing, Grid Upgrades
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced plans to cut $7.5 billion in grants yesterday, threatening projects that would support U.S. manufacturers, lower energy costs for Americans, and create hundreds of thousands of high-quality domestic jobs.
The cuts appear to target blue states and include funding for battery plants, electric grid upgrades, clean vehicle manufacturing, hydrogen hubs, and industrial demonstrations projects.
The following is a statement from Jackie Wong, senior vice president for Climate & Energy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):
“Slashing this money will mean lost factory jobs and higher energy prices for American consumers. This is yet another blow by the Trump administration against innovative technology, jobs, and the clean energy needed to meet skyrocketing demand. This is the exact opposite of what the American economy needs right now.
“Ending support for these projects will stall American innovation and competitiveness, raising costs for consumers, and further cementing our reliance on dirty fossil fuels.”
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).