Senate Democrats are demanding Energy Secretary Chris Wright uphold his vow to deliver congressionally approved funds amid a flurry of reports that his agency is crafting lists of possible projects to kill.
Sens. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the ranking member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, as well as 25 of their colleagues, in a letter Wednesday called on Wright to brief them on what grants, loans or loan guarantees he believes should be rescinded and to explain why. They also demanded that Wright follow the law and spend the money Congress had approved. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also signed the letter.
“We are deeply troubled by recent news reports that the Department of Energy (Department) is creating a ‘hit list of clean energy projects’ to ‘wipe out’ for being inconsistent with the President’s priorities,” they wrote.
“This list reportedly includes hydrogen hubs and carbon capture, critical mineral, and battery storage projects that have already received grant and loan funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and annual appropriations bills,” the lawmakers added.
