The Sierra Club said the Trump administration’s decision to scrap $7.6 billion in clean energy grants across the U.S. will result in higher costs and dirtier air throughout Pennsylvania and other states.
Court documents confirm the federal government canceled more than 300 grants in 16 states because they voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
Patrick Drupp, climate policy director for the Sierra Club, said clean energy lowers bills, protects air and water, and provides secure and reliable electricity when families need it most.
“Electricity prices are soaring at record highs right now and Donald Trump is driving up costs for households even more by gutting these clean energy projects,” Drupp contended.
Pennsylvania was not directly affected by the grant cancellations. However, because the state is part of a regional power grid, decisions made in surrounding states can still have an effect. In October of last year, the Department of Energy said the projects funded by the grants failed to meet national energy needs, were not economically viable and would not deliver a worthwhile return on taxpayer investment.
Drupp believes the president’s attacks on cheap, clean energy are reckless and Americans everywhere deserve a leader who will put people above petty politics.
“The Sierra Club’s demanding that Donald Trump end his attack on clean energy and actually work to lower bills, cut pollution, and protect our air and water,” Drupp explained.
The nonprofit also argued the Trump administration canceled the grants to boost the coal industry.
A study showed 460,000 U.S. deaths occurring between 1999 and 2020 were a result of air pollution from coal plants. The Sierra Club offers a mapping tool tracking this pollution throughout the country.
This article was originally published at Public News Service.
