Trump officials cut nearly $8bn in clean energy projects in Democratic states

"The Trump administration is cancelling $7.6bn in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects in 16 states, all of which voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year's presidential election. The move comes as Donald Trump threatens deep cuts in his fight with congressional Democrats over the government shutdown. The energy department said in a statement on Thursday that 223 projects were terminated after a review determined they did not adequately advance the nation's energy needs or were not economically viable."

"Officials did not provide details about which projects are being cut, but said funding came from the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and other energy department bureaus. The cuts are likely to affect battery plants, hydrogen technology projects, upgrades to the electric grid and carbon-capture efforts, among many others, according to the environmental non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council."

"Russ Vought, the White House budget director, highlighted the cutbacks in a social media post late on Wednesday, saying money to fuel the Left's climate agenda is being cancelled. He said projects are on the chopping block in: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington state."

Federal officials cancelled $7.6 billion in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects across 16 states. A Department of Energy review determined 223 projects did not adequately advance national energy needs or were not economically viable. Funding came from the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and other Energy Department bureaus. The cancellations are expected to affect battery plants, hydrogen technology projects, electric-grid upgrades, and carbon-capture efforts. The White House budget director characterized the cuts as cancelling money for the Left's climate agenda and identified the 16 targeted states, all of which voted for Kamala Harris.

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