Trump administration to give away a $300 million wind energy subsidy The Hill
Energy Department officials have announced they will give away $300m in wind power subsidies, with some coming in a few years, to help promote the industry and reduce carbon emissions, according to a memo.
The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory said in the memo that the incentives will be available in two waves starting in 2020, with the largest wave starting in 2021.
The next wave will offer incentives starting in 2022, with an average cost of $13.5 million a year.
The wind incentives are one of several steps the administration is taking to help combat climate change and energy-efficiency, according the memo.
The memo says the program is part of the administration’s efforts to combat “fraud, waste, and abuse.”
The Energy and Commerce Department is also expected to issue a second wind energy production subsidy this year.
The new subsidy will be distributed through federal agencies, according a White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the issue.
Trump’s proposed budget for 2019 and 2020 proposes giving away more than $6 billion in subsidies to states, including $1.5 billion for the Clean Power Plan, an effort to curb emissions.
The administration has said the Clean Plan will help address climate change, but some critics have argued it will cost more and make the nation less competitive.
