Energy & Environment — 'Green bank' funds frozen

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View Online Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story  Bank accounts for $20B climate program frozen The bank accounts of nonprofits administering a $20 billion climate program have been frozen as the program faces significant scrutiny from the Trump administration.  © Greg Nash for The Hill One grant recipient has confirmed to The Hill that their account with Citibank has been frozen in the wake of pressure from the administration. At least two others told E&E News, which first reported the freeze, that they were in the same boat.    The program in question, which is funded by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, provides $20 billion to help finance the deployment of climate-friendly projects.    Last year, the Biden administration awarded that cash to eight institutions that are in charge of doling it out to projects aimed at mitigating climate change.   Now, however, at least some of those eight entities have had their accounts frozen. A representative from one of the organizations told The Hill that their funds were originally frozen by Citi for a day after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin criticized the program.   The account was briefly unfrozen, but was made inaccessible again last week. The representative said that they have requested information from Citibank and the EPA, but have not received it as of Monday.   In the meantime, the organization does not have access to funds needed for their operations.   A spokesperson for Citibank declined to comment.    A spokesperson for the EPA directed The Hill to a recent video of Zeldin in which he indicated that he wanted to claw back funds for the program and said he would get the Justice Department involved.    Read more at TheHill.com. Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: EPA to make higher-ethanol gas available year round beginning in April The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will proceed with Biden-era plans to allow the year-round sale of higher-ethanol E15 fuel, a longtime ask of midwestern lawmakers and the biofuels industry.  Full Story In Texas, 'energy dominance' is the solar industry's new motto AUSTIN, Texas — Solar energy might be clean, cheap and slow the heating of the planet. But that's not what the solar industry wants lawmakers to focus on.  Full Story Newsom asks Congress for almost $40B in wildfire recovery aid California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has requested that Congress appropriate nearly $40 billion to support communities affected by the wildfires that devastated the Los Angeles region last month.  Full Story In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Top GOP negotiator warns stopgap becoming more likely to avert shutdown House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said Monday that negotiators are still trading offers as both sides seek a compromise to keep the government funded into autumn — but he cautioned a stopgap is becoming more likely the longer Congress goes without a deal. Full Story What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: USAID document: Climate programs are being shut down (E&E News)   Fluoride banned from Utah water if governor signs bill (The Salt Lake Tribune) Farmers Sue Over Deletion of Climate Data From Government Websites (The New York Times) On Tap  Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: The House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday on the Army Corps of Engineers' Civil Works program. The corps' chief of engineers and commanding general is slated to appear.  The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing titled "Full Blast: Contrasting Momentum in the Space Mining Economy to the Terrestrial Mining Regulatory Morass | Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee." What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: OPM tells HR leaders that response to Musk is 'voluntary' The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) informed agency leaders that employee response to an email asking for a recap of what they accomplished last week is voluntary and that failure to do so will not be considered a resignation. Read more Angry Democratic donors turn off the flow of money Democrats are anxious to rebuild their party on the heels of President Trump's victory in November. But they have a major problem as they try to refashion their brand: The money isn't there.  Read more Opinions in The Hill  Op-ed related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: Ignoring science for profit will have deadly consequences for America    You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? 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