The U.S. Department of Energy has announced plans to retract $7.56 billion in clean energy grants, a move impacting numerous projects nationwide, including significant commitments in the North Coast region. This sweeping cancellation, declared by Secretary Chris Wright on October 2, affects 321 financial awards linked to 223 projects across 16 states, with recipients given a 30-day window to contest the decision.
Among the grants facing termination are seven tied to the North Coast, as per a list circulated by House Appropriations Committee Democrats. While not all projects could be confirmed locally, five grants totaling $140 million are attributed to California’s District 2, represented by Rep. Jared Huffman, covering regions from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including several counties.
- Redwood Coast Energy Authority: $87.6 million
- West Biofuels LLC: $30 million
- Sonoma Technology Inc. (two grants): $13 million
- ReJoule Inc.: $10 million
In District 5, represented by Rep. Mike Thompson, two grants amounting to $17 million are affected, covering Napa, Lake counties, and parts of others.
- Liberty Utilities (Calpeco Electric): $13 million
- UC Davis: $4 million
Huffman criticized the cancellations as “a political attack on Democrats” impacting constituents in both Democratic and Republican districts. According to committee Democrats, the cuts span 108 Democrat and 28 Republican districts. Huffman and Thompson, along with 162 other Democrat representatives, protested the cuts in a letter to Wright. Some Republican lawmakers have also expressed concerns over local economic repercussions.
Huffman further commented, “Solar, wind, and batteries are already delivering affordable, homegrown power across America, yet Trump keeps peddling his ‘energy abundance’ con job. This is (Office of Management and Budget Director) Russ (Vought)’s sick, twisted Project 2025 playbook in action: sabotage the competition, punish anyone who won’t bend the knee, and let Big Oil write the checks while Americans foot the bill.”
Russ Vought had described the cancelled grants as part of the “Green New Scam funding.” The cuts may reflect partisan priorities, with the GOP platform opposing the “Socialist Green New Deal” and advocating for energy production without federal spending mandates.
The most substantial North Coast grant cut is $87.6 million from the National Energy Technology Laboratory for the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, as reported by the Eureka Times-Standard. This funding was intended for the Tribal Energy Resilience and Sovereignty project, aiming to construct microgrids along a problematic 142-mile electrical distribution line in Humboldt County. Key stakeholders include local tribes, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., and the Schatz Energy Research Center.
Sonoma Technology, a consulting firm in Petaluma, was another confirmed recipient. It received nearly $10 million and almost $3 million grants to monitor methane emissions in underserved areas in California and Colorado.
ReJoule Energy, based in Signal Hill, was awarded $10 million to build battery storage systems for affordable housing projects, a plan now uncertain following the grant termination.
West Biofuels, initially based in Petaluma but now operating in Woodland, received $30 million for a plant converting wood waste to energy in the Sierra Nevada, addressing frequent power outages.
Liberty Utilities’ CalPeco Electric was set to use its $13 million grant for upgrading grid capabilities in the Lake Tahoe area.
UC Davis did not provide comments regarding the grant cancellation.
Original Story at www.pressdemocrat.com