Power bills are escalating as a result of the Department of Energy impeding transmission line development, claims Heinrich.
In a move that could potentially halt the development of numerous wind and solar projects, the Trump administration has launched a series of anti-wind and anti-solar actions in the past month. One of the most significant actions involves the termination of a $4.9 billion loan for the Grain Belt Express, the country's biggest transmission grid project.
Senator Martin Heinrich, Democrat from New Mexico, has filed a complaint against Energy Secretary Chris Wright due to this decision, raising concerns over its impact on clean energy infrastructure and job creation. Heinrich believes that the administration's decision to block the Grain Belt Express is illegal and compares it to reneging on a preapproved mortgage in a banking context.
The Grain Belt Express would support gigawatts' worth of new wind and solar projects, contributing significantly to the clean energy sector. Last year, clean energy made up 96% of the new energy capacity being added to the U.S. grid. The cancellation of the loan for the Grain Belt Express could potentially halt already permitted wind farms on land and at sea, and block development on federal lands under "capacity density" restrictions.
Heinrich's letter to Energy Secretary Wright challenges the administration's excuse for cutting off the legally binding contract between the federal government and Invenergy, the company behind the Grain Belt Express project. The senator believes that Secretary Wright, before becoming secretary, had committed to following the law in regards to conditional loan guarantees.
Jigar Shah, the former head of the DOE Loan Programs Office, shares Heinrich's concerns. He believes that the decision to cancel the loan is illegal and could set a dangerous precedent for future projects.
In response to these actions, Heinrich is demanding that the Department of Energy account for its decision. He is not alone in his concerns, as the cancellation of the loan for the Grain Belt Express has sparked a debate about the future of clean energy infrastructure in the United States.
The new GOP megalaw is expected to cut new solar, wind, and battery deployments by more than half. If enacted, this could further hinder the progress of clean energy projects in the country. As the debate continues, Senator Heinrich and others are working to ensure that the clean energy sector continues to grow and provide jobs for Americans.
