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Trump Axes $7B Solar Grant, Hurting 900K Families

8/9/2025

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Center

Sanders Critiques Energy Cuts

The Trump administration's abrupt cancellation of a $7 billion solar grant program has left over 900,000 low-income families in the lurch, following the axing of the Lava Ridge Wind Project in Idaho. Critics, like Senator Bernie Sanders, warn that these decisions threaten renewable energy progress and will ultimately drive up energy costs for struggling consumers.

Right

Trump Halts Wind Project

President Trump's Interior Department has put the brakes on the Lava Ridge Wind Project in Idaho, a plan once greenlit by Biden. Secretary Doug Burgum pointed to "crucial legal deficiencies" and worries for rural communities, amid pushback from state agencies and the Idaho House. Meanwhile, the Department will keep evaluating wind energy leasing practices.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. Congress passed the Energy Improvement and Extension Act in 2008, which significantly boosted renewable energy, leading to a 50% increase in wind energy capacity by 2016. However, the Trump administration's actions, including halting projects like Empire Wind, marked a shift away from these initiatives, potentially jeopardizing the U.S. transition to sustainable energy and its climate goals.

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Sanders Critiques Energy Cuts

The Trump administration's abrupt cancellation of a $7 billion solar grant program has left over 900,000 low-income families in the lurch, following the axing of the Lava Ridge Wind Project in Idaho. Critics, like Senator Bernie Sanders, warn that these decisions threaten renewable energy progress and will ultimately drive up energy costs for struggling consumers.

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