US Senators ask Energy Secretary to comply with law regarding clean energy grants and loans

U.S. Democratic Senators on Wednesday called for Energy Secretary Chris Wright's department to comply with laws that mandate his funding of clean energy projects, which were included in laws passed prior to Donald Trump becoming president. This includes four hydrogen hubs.

Wright's Department is considering funding cuts for four of seven hubs that are part of a $7 billion project to decarbonize America's economy. The program is a part of Joe Biden's efforts to do so. The hubs aim to boost the production of clean hydrogen and infrastructure required to deliver it to steelmakers and cement plants, among other industrial users.

Senators are concerned about the Department's plans to cut funding for projects such as hubs, critical minerals and battery storage, which have already been funded by grant or loan from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan infrastructure law, and the annual appropriations bill signed by Biden.

Since Trump's inauguration in January, Washington has cut funding for clean-energy projects. As part of his "energy dominance agenda", the Trump administration prioritizes production of fossil fuels, including oil, coal and gas.

In a letter sent to Wright by Martin Heinrich, Patty Murray, and 25 other Democrats, they said that the Constitution gave Congress exclusive authority to appropriate funds and the power to control the purse.

It said: "Once the law has been properly enacted by the legislature, the Constitution requires that the President 'take care to faithfully execute the Laws'."

Senators stated that a president could not substitute his policy preferences for the requirements of law and he couldn't refuse to spend money Congress has mandated an administration spend.

The DOE did respond immediately to a comment request. The DOE has previously stated that it was conducting a departmental review of all projects. (Reporting and editing by Timothy Gardner)

(source: Reuters)