solar farm with multiple solar panels surrounded by forest

Biden administration rushes to finalize clean energy loans before January

The Biden administration is pushing to finalize billions in clean energy loans before Donald Trump potentially halts the program after taking office.

Brad Plumer reports for The New York Times.


In short:

  • The Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office has $400 billion to fund clean energy projects, with $54 billion in loans announced under Biden, but only $13.5 billion finalized.
  • Concerns about potential cuts under a Trump administration have accelerated efforts to finalize loan agreements for EVs, nuclear and geothermal projects.
  • Companies like EVgo and Rivian worry their projects will be delayed or canceled if deals aren't closed before the administration changes.

Key quote:

“They want to get out as much money as possible just to safeguard as much progress as they can.”

— Kennedy Nickerson, former policy adviser to the loan programs office and now a vice president for energy at Capstone, a research firm

Why this matters:

These loans support technologies that reduce carbon emissions and boost energy security. If the program slows or is dismantled, the U.S. may lose ground to competitors like China in critical energy sectors such as electric vehicles and battery production.

Related: Democrats push Biden to allocate climate funds before leaving office

A view of a snow-dotted mountain range with a forest in the foreground.

Oil executive without Senate approval reshapes Interior while holding energy investments

A Texas oil executive with ties to the fossil fuel industry is overseeing sweeping changes inside the U.S. Interior Department despite lacking Senate confirmation, divestments, or an ethics pledge.

Martha Bellisle reports for The Associated Press.

Keep reading...Show less
A person's gloved hands installing solar panels on a roof.

Clean energy investments in GOP-led states face cuts under Trump-backed tax bill

A House-approved tax plan backed by President Trump would dismantle clean energy incentives driving billions of dollars in economic growth in Republican strongholds, putting Senate Republicans in a political and economic bind.

Evan Halper and Maxine Joselow report for The Washington Post.

Keep reading...Show less
Closeup of a wind turbine with blue sky in the background.

Texas Republicans clash over future of renewable energy in battle for party’s soul

A growing rift among Texas Republicans over wind and solar energy has ignited a political and economic fight with national implications, as conservative lawmakers seek to roll back renewable energy programs that their own party once championed.

Saul Elbein reports for The Hill.

Keep reading...Show less
Teens walking on a forest path.

Teen-run conservation group helps Minnesota youth cope with climate stress through action

A student-led environmental group in Minnesota is helping teenagers turn climate anxiety into purpose by organizing hands-on conservation projects like planting trees and restoring trails.

Kate Selig reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
A burning book with flames and blackened, curled pages.

Trump administration accelerates purge of education, science, and historical research

The Trump administration has begun dismantling federal support for research, public education, and scientific inquiry, threatening the infrastructure that has long informed American public policy and innovation.

Adam Serwer reports for The Atlantic.

Keep reading...Show less
A string of red beads lying on a patterned rug.

Green Islam reframes climate responsibility as a sacred act of community care in Indonesia

As rising seas and vanishing forests remake Indonesia’s landscape, a growing movement rooted in Islam is reshaping climate action as a shared religious and civic duty.

Sara Miller Llana and Lindsey McGinnis report for The Christian Science Monitor.

Keep reading...Show less
Scientist looking at a slide through a microscope.

NSF grant funding falls by half as Trump administration slashes science budgets

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has cut research grant funding to its lowest level in more than three decades, affecting nearly every scientific field and leaving thousands of researchers in limbo.

Aatish Bhatia, Irineo Cabreros, Asmaa Elkeurti and Ethan Singer report for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.