The Trump administration Demolition of environmental protection Internal documents show that progress towards clean energy across the country is disproportionately targeting California and other blue states.
Funding was available from hundreds of projects as early as this week, many of which were reinforced by President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law and aimed at supplying climate-friendly initiatives such as solar, heat pumps, battery storage and renewable energy, and reviewed the Times’ leak list.
The cuts could include as many as 262 projects in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, about 80% of which are based on states that did not participate in Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
On the chopping block, nearly twenty projects from the Clean Energy Demonstration Office, including one called ” Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (H2HUBS) Programaims to accelerate the development of hydrogen projects that can replace flying fossil fuels.
The cuts are not applied equally: out of seven states and territories selected for the $7 billion federal hydrogen program, the four countries that are struggling are mainly democratic areas.
The hydrogen incubator on the incision list includes California’s hub; Mid-Atlantic Centers in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey; Northwest Pacific Hubs in Oregon, Washington and Montana; and Midwest Hubs in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.
Meanwhile, the list shows that the red status and the region’s hydrogen hub is safe, including a large Texas hub. Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota’s “heartland” hub; and Appalachian hubs in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Department of Energy officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
California is one of the 33 applicants for the competitive program, which was launched in 2021 and ultimately selected seven “hubs” to develop and test various sources of hydrogen.
California Hub – called Arch or alliance of renewable clean hydrogen energy systems – Acquired $1.2 billion in federal funding and plans to bring an additional $11.2 billion to private investors.
Although the hub is the highest-scoring applicant among those considered the federal award, it is now facing cuts from Trump’s doe, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Democratic staff on the House Science Committee agreed to speak in the context that the findings show that the cuts are partisan and ideological in nature, a trend that is consistent with other actions of the Trump administration, Repeated targeting Environmental plans in California and other democratic regions in recent weeks.
Indeed, given that Texas’ hydrogen hub has received the same amount of federal funding as California ($1.2 billion), the former has not yet received the same amount of federal funding ($1.2 billion), but the former has not yet received the same amount of federal funding ($1.2 billion). Projects in both states are the most expensive projects in the hub, ranging from about $750 million to $1.2 billion.
According to the Times analysis, the total cuts and renewable energy of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency exceeded $905 million, with approximately $735 million coming from blue states and $169 million coming from red states.
Insiders say these ratios do not reflect overall clean energy investment in red and blue countries, with Republican states such as Texas (Job Sage of the Clean Energy Royal Family) facing less cuts. According to documents reviewed by the Times, only eight Texas projects are in the chopping blocks, while California has 53 projects.
House Science Committee staff warned that the leaked list represents a timely snapshot that the government can change its plans before any formal announcements are made.
They say some Republican representatives and private business leaders have successfully prevented certain projects from being cancelled. They say none of their Democrats can do that so far.
These cuts may have considerable impact on the country’s energy future.
These seven hydrogen hubs are expected to produce 3 million tons of hydrogen per year – reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 25 million tons, or about 5.5 million gasoline-powered vehicles.
Each of the seven hubs is trying different sources of hydrogen, California focuses on producing hydrogen only from renewables and biomass, while others work with natural gas, nuclear and renewables such as wind and solar.
Arch officials said it may take several weeks to get more clear about the situation.
“Arch remains committed to working with our partners to build a safe, reliable and competitive hydrogen ecosystem, create hundreds of thousands of highly paid jobs and bring substantial health and economic benefits to Californians,” CEO Angelina Galiteva said in a statement. “We don’t need to share at this moment.”
Hydrogen is not without controversy. Critics expressed concerns that hydrogen production is water and energy-intensive and could be dangerous to transportation and cost.
Proponents say it fills a critical gap that electrification alone cannot cover, especially for heavy industries such as manufacturing and transportation.
Arches plans to fund at least 37 smaller projects in and around California, including efforts to decarbonize the Los Angeles port, and plans to install more than 60 hydrogen gas stations in the state.
The status of these items is not yet known.
President – Record donations During his campaign, starting with the fossil fuel company, targeting what he described as “environmental extremists, madmen, activists and thugs”, instead of a vow Increase coal production,,,,, Add oil drill And blocked California’s efforts Transition to electric carsamong other actions.
