Judge Restores Funds to Lower Energy Costs  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A U.S. federal judge issued a preliminary injunction stating that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must restart funding to finance clean energy projects under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.  

Before the administration tried to freeze this funding, this $20 billion program had already begun to bear fruit—investing, for example, in efficient, new housing construction in Fort Worth and installations of American-made solar panels at state schools in Arkansas.  

The following is a comment from Adam Kent, director of green finance at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): 

“This decision confirms that the attack on this program is a politically motivated stunt—a stunt that would mean homeowners pay more on their energy bills, small businesses shed workers, and new housing construction stalls. 

“The facts are clear. Congress gave the EPA the authority and funding to spur investments in rooftop solar, efficient water heaters—or other projects that save families and businesses money on their energy bills. Despite some blustery social media posts, the administration has failed to present evidence that could justify its outrageous actions.  

“This ruling begins to right the ship. The EPA should abandon its unsubstantiated attacks on this program and, instead, get to work supporting a fund poised to inject billions of dollars into economic development projects in communities across the country.” 

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).  

NRDC never sought funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and will not receive funding either directly from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or indirectly via the organizations that challenged the EPA's efforts to freeze their Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund awards.