Latest news with #greenhousegas
Washington Post
a day ago
- Business
- Washington Post
The Department of Energy axes $3.7 billion in clean energy project grants
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday he canceled nearly $4 billion in project grants, in another massive blow to clean energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts in the U.S. under President Donald Trump's administration. The grants, largely awarded during former President Joe Biden's final few months in the White House, were primarily for programs to capture carbon emissions and store them underground. Other targeted efforts span cleaner cement, natural gas and more. Some of the 24 canceled awards include $500 million to Heidelberg Materials US, Inc.; $375 million to Eastman Chemical Company; $95 million to Nevada Gold Mines, LLC; and $270 million to Sutter CCUS, among others, according to a list provided by the Department of Energy. Sublime Systems, which lost an $87 million grant, was 'surprised and disappointed,' the company said in a statement. 'Today's action is bad for U.S. competitiveness in the global market and also directly contradictory to the administration's stated goals of supporting energy production and environmental innovation,' said Conrad Schneider, a senior director at the Clean Air Task Force. It 'undercuts U.S. competitiveness at a time when there is a growing global market for cleaner industrial products and technologies.' The news was a swift follow-up to plans the Energy Department announced earlier this month to review 179 funded projects, totaling over $15 billion, that were awarded by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations created under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. It is part of Wright's pledge to ensure 'responsible' spending — aligning with the government's broader efficiency and cost-cutting measures, such as those recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency, which has significantly impacted federal research, workers and agencies. 'While the previous administration failed to conduct a thorough financial review before signing away billions of taxpayer dollars, the Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment,' Wright said in Friday's statement. Moreover, the announcement marks the latest of the administration's attacks on clean energy, broadly, and its effort to slash federal support for projects addressing climate change. The Trump administration has taken an ax to Biden-era environmental ambitions, rolled back landmark regulations, withdrawn climate project funding, and instead bolstered support for oil and gas production in the name of an 'American energy dominance' agenda. Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, called the news 'shortsighted.' Carbon capture has been a controversial climate solution , as skeptics say it enables the continued burning of fossil fuels oil, coal and natural gas that emit planet-warming greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide — and distracts from the need to cut ties with those energy sources altogether. Though investment in the technology has grown, it also remains challenging to scale. Organizations quickly decried the secretary's actions, stressing that the cancelations don't align with the administration's goals to bolster domestic manufacturing or energy independence. Jessie Stolark, the executive director of the nonpartisan Carbon Capture Coalition, said the news 'is a major step backward' for carbon management technologies, which are 'crucial to meeting America's growing demand for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.' 'These projects are not just reducing pollution, they are keeping the U.S. on the cutting edge of manufacturing technology,' said Mike Williams, senior fellow on the energy and environment team at public policy and advocacy group the Center for American Progress. 'Canceling these important projects will raise energy prices for consumers and sacrifice thousands of high-quality union jobs, all because the president wants to curry favor with Big Oil.' Evan Gillespie, partner at decarbonization organization, Industrious Labs, said the move dismantles the economy and the future of American manufacturing and its workforce. 'Killing these projects means more emissions, more pollution, and more people getting sick,' he said. ___ Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn . Reach her at . ___ Read more of AP's climate coverage at ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
The Department of Energy axes $3.7 billion in clean energy project grants
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday he canceled nearly $4 billion in project grants, in another massive blow to clean energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts in the U.S. under President Donald Trump 's administration. The grants, largely awarded during former President Joe Biden 's final few months in the White House, were primarily for programs to capture carbon emissions and store them underground. Other targeted efforts span cleaner cement, natural gas and more. Some of the 24 canceled awards include $500 million to Heidelberg Materials US, Inc.; $375 million to Eastman Chemical Company; $95 million to Nevada Gold Mines, LLC; and $270 million to Sutter CCUS, among others, according to a list provided by the Department of Energy. Sublime Systems, which lost an $87 million grant, was 'surprised and disappointed,' the company said in a statement. 'Today's action is bad for U.S. competitiveness in the global market and also directly contradictory to the administration's stated goals of supporting energy production and environmental innovation,' said Conrad Schneider, a senior director at the Clean Air Task Force. It 'undercuts U.S. competitiveness at a time when there is a growing global market for cleaner industrial products and technologies.' The news was a swift follow-up to plans the Energy Department announced earlier this month to review 179 funded projects, totaling over $15 billion, that were awarded by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations created under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. It is part of Wright's pledge to ensure 'responsible' spending — aligning with the government's broader efficiency and cost-cutting measures, such as those recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency, which has significantly impacted federal research, workers and agencies. 'While the previous administration failed to conduct a thorough financial review before signing away billions of taxpayer dollars, the Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment," Wright said in Friday's statement. Moreover, the announcement marks the latest of the administration's attacks on clean energy, broadly, and its effort to slash federal support for projects addressing climate change. The Trump administration has taken an ax to Biden-era environmental ambitions, rolled back landmark regulations, withdrawn climate project funding, and instead bolstered support for oil and gas production in the name of an 'American energy dominance' agenda. Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, called the news 'shortsighted.' Carbon capture has been a controversial climate solution, as skeptics say it enables the continued burning of fossil fuels oil, coal and natural gas that emit planet-warming greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide — and distracts from the need to cut ties with those energy sources altogether. Though investment in the technology has grown, it also remains challenging to scale. Industry decries the news Organizations quickly decried the secretary's actions, stressing that the cancelations don't align with the administration's goals to bolster domestic manufacturing or energy independence. Jessie Stolark, the executive director of the nonpartisan Carbon Capture Coalition, said the news 'is a major step backward" for carbon management technologies, which are 'crucial to meeting America's growing demand for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.' 'These projects are not just reducing pollution, they are keeping the U.S. on the cutting edge of manufacturing technology," said Mike Williams, senior fellow on the energy and environment team at public policy and advocacy group the Center for American Progress. "Canceling these important projects will raise energy prices for consumers and sacrifice thousands of high-quality union jobs, all because the president wants to curry favor with Big Oil.' Evan Gillespie, partner at decarbonization organization, Industrious Labs, said the move dismantles the economy and the future of American manufacturing and its workforce. 'Killing these projects means more emissions, more pollution, and more people getting sick,' he said. ___ Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ___ ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
The Department of Energy axes $3.7 billion in clean energy project grants
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday he canceled nearly $4 billion in project grants, in another massive blow to clean energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts in the U.S. under President Donald Trump's administration. The grants, largely awarded during former President Joe Biden's final few months in the White House, were primarily for programs to capture carbon emissions and store them underground. Other targeted efforts span cleaner cement, natural gas and more. Some of the 24 canceled awards include $500 million to Heidelberg Materials US, Inc.; $375 million to Eastman Chemical Company; $95 million to Nevada Gold Mines, LLC; and $270 million to Sutter CCUS, among others, according to a list provided by the Department of Energy. Sublime Systems, which lost an $87 million grant, was 'surprised and disappointed,' the company said in a statement. 'Today's action is bad for U.S. competitiveness in the global market and also directly contradictory to the administration's stated goals of supporting energy production and environmental innovation,' said Conrad Schneider, a senior director at the Clean Air Task Force. It 'undercuts U.S. competitiveness at a time when there is a growing global market for cleaner industrial products and technologies.' The news was a swift follow-up to plans the Energy Department announced earlier this month to review 179 funded projects, totaling over $15 billion, that were awarded by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations created under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. It is part of Wright's pledge to ensure 'responsible' spending — aligning with the government's broader efficiency and cost-cutting measures, such as those recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency, which has significantly impacted federal research, workers and agencies. 'While the previous administration failed to conduct a thorough financial review before signing away billions of taxpayer dollars, the Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment,' Wright said in Friday's statement. Moreover, the announcement marks the latest of the administration's attacks on clean energy, broadly, and its effort to slash federal support for projects addressing climate change. The Trump administration has taken an ax to Biden-era environmental ambitions, rolled back landmark regulations, withdrawn climate project funding, and instead bolstered support for oil and gas production in the name of an 'American energy dominance' agenda. Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, called the news 'shortsighted.' Carbon capture has been a controversial climate solution, as skeptics say it enables the continued burning of fossil fuels oil, coal and natural gas that emit planet-warming greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide — and distracts from the need to cut ties with those energy sources altogether. Though investment in the technology has grown, it also remains challenging to scale. Industry decries the news Organizations quickly decried the secretary's actions, stressing that the cancelations don't align with the administration's goals to bolster domestic manufacturing or energy independence. Jessie Stolark, the executive director of the nonpartisan Carbon Capture Coalition, said the news 'is a major step backward' for carbon management technologies, which are 'crucial to meeting America's growing demand for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.' 'These projects are not just reducing pollution, they are keeping the U.S. on the cutting edge of manufacturing technology,' said Mike Williams, senior fellow on the energy and environment team at public policy and advocacy group the Center for American Progress. 'Canceling these important projects will raise energy prices for consumers and sacrifice thousands of high-quality union jobs, all because the president wants to curry favor with Big Oil.' Evan Gillespie, partner at decarbonization organization, Industrious Labs, said the move dismantles the economy and the future of American manufacturing and its workforce. 'Killing these projects means more emissions, more pollution, and more people getting sick,' he said. ___ Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at [email protected]. ___ Read more of AP's climate coverage at ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
EU to propose more flexible climate goal in July
After months of delay, the 2040 EU climate target will be decided on July 2. (EPA Images pic) BRUSSELS : The European Commission will propose a new EU climate target in July that includes flexibilities for how countries meet it, as Brussels attempts to fend off mounting criticism of Europe's environmental aims, EU diplomats told Reuters. The EU's climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, confirmed plans to present an EU climate target for 2040 on July 2, during a meeting with EU countries' representatives on Wednesday, diplomats familiar with the closed-door talks told Reuters. The proposal will set an EU goal to cut net greenhouse gas emissions 90% by 2040, compared with 1990 levels, the diplomats said. However, the EU executive plans to add flexibilities to that target, which could reduce what it demands from domestic industries. The flexibilities include setting an emissions-cutting target for domestic industries that is lower than 90% and letting countries buy international carbon credits to make up the rest, to reach 90%, the diplomats said. A European Commission spokesman declined to comment on the plans. The commission has promised not to weaken Europe's ambitious climate aims, despite mounting criticism from governments and lawmakers concerned about the cost for European businesses, which are struggling with high energy prices and looming US tariffs. Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent. The commission has delayed its 2040 climate proposal for months, and has weakened other green laws in recent months to try to calm the political pushback. EU countries are split over the 2040 goal, which they and EU lawmakers must approve. Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark are among those backing a 90% emissions cut. Opponents include Italy and the Czech Republic. Germany has backed a 90% target if countries can use international carbon credits to meet three percentage points of the goal. The commission is also considering softening requirements for countries to cut emissions in specific sectors – giving them more choice over which industries do the heavy lifting to meet the goal, the diplomats said. The 2040 goal will aim to keep EU countries on track between their 2030 emissions target – which they are nearly on track to meet – and the EU's aim to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Malaysia to use B20 biodiesel in ports to cut greenhouse gas and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
Photo: Freepik/tawatchai07(for illustration purposes only) SEPANG: Malaysia is ramping up its green efforts by switching from B10 palm-based biodiesel in its port operations to B20 biodiesel as part of a broader plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45% by 2030 and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Bernama reported, citing Plantations and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. Mr Johari said the government is targeting nationwide implementation, urging major ports including Penang Port, Port Klang, Johor Port, Tanjung Pelepas Port, and Kuantan Port to start using B20 biodiesel in their operations. Currently, Malaysian ports are using B10, a mixture of 10% palm-based biodiesel . B20, a blend of 20% palm-based methyl ester (PME) and 80% petroleum diesel, helps the environment by reducing the use of fossil-based fuels and lowering GHG emissions that contribute to global warming. After the launch of the B20 Use Pilot Project for Ground Service Vehicles and Machinery at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Mr Johari told reporters that data are being collected to determine operational costs before full-scale implementation. Pilot projects have already been rolled out in Langkawi, Labuan, and Sarawak since 2020, and now KLIA, for its ground service vehicles and machinery. See also Najib named in 1MDB lawsuit ' This is one of the government's key initiatives because we've made a commitment to the world that we intend to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,' Mr Johari said, adding that the move also strengthens Malaysia's position as the world's second-largest producer of palm oil. He said the project is a joint effort by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), and Syarikat Teras Kembang Sdn Bhd. Petronas is supplying the B20 biodiesel, MAHB is running airport operations, and Syarikat Teras Kembang is in charge of supplying B20 to ground service vehicle operators and machinery at KLIA. Mr Johari called the launch a 'historic milestone', saying it marks the first time B20 biodiesel is being used in the ground service or industrial sector at Malaysian airports. /TISG Read also: Green promises, grey realities: Is Singapore's sustainability agenda working?
