US government pulls $720 million in clean energy grants
The US Department of Energy just canceled $720 million in manufacturing grants that were awarded under President Biden's 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
These funds were supposed to boost projects like battery recycling, advanced battery materials, and super-insulating windows.
DOE spokesperson Ben Dietderich explained the projects "missed milestones" and "did not adequately advance the nation's energy needs."
Impact on startups and supply chains
This move hits pause on several startups working to make clean energy tech more mainstream—think companies like Ascend Elements, Anovion, and LuxWall.
The canceled funding could slow down US progress on recycling lithium-ion batteries and making synthetic graphite at home, which matters because it means more reliance on foreign supply chains (especially China).
It also suggests a potential shift in how the government is picking which climate-friendly projects get support right now.