The Energy Department is considering axing federal programs aimed at bolstering solar and wind technology and helping integrate renewables into the grid to comply with drastic cuts in President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget request, according to documents viewed by POLITICO’s E&E News.
DOE is mulling zeroing out hundreds of millions of dollars for sub offices within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, including Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies, Renewable Energy Grid Integration, Solar Energy Technologies, and Wind Energy Technologies, according to the document.
The document offers a window into what changes may be afoot as DOE moves to align its spending with Trump’s budget request, yet Congress will ultimately have to sign off. Bipartisan senators earlier this week grilled Trump’s nominees over the spending cuts and demanded to know how they would lead agencies facing such challenges.
DOE did not immediately respond when asked about the document or plans to cut the programs, but two career officials within DOE — granted anonymity because they fear retribution — confirmed the document was authentic.
