Some of the clean energy incentives created by the Biden Administration were removed or set to expire by the budget reconciliation bill signed July 4, 2025. The Trump Administration has frozen other funding or challenged it in court. As things change, we are noting the changes in italic paragraphs at the top of each page on this website. There is additional information below about efforts to keep these funds available, especially to those who were already awarded grants.
On January 20, 2025, the Administration ordered a pause on all “Green New Deal” funding, pending a 90-day review. On January 27, the Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo announcing an immediate freeze on disbursement of Federal funds. If this stands, it would be an extreme power grab, but it is being challenged in the courts. OMB rescinded its memo on January 29, but many of the funds are still frozen and some already-awarded grants are in danger of being terminated. These actions are meant to create chaos and make people fear that the programs they depend on will be taken away. But it’s not the end of the story.
Two Federal courts issued restraining orders to keep the funds flowing, but there were still reports of grant recipients having trouble accessing funds they had been awarded.
As of February 25, 2025, it appeared that all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs had been unfrozen, except for the NCIF and CCIA grants under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). Recipients of those funds have sued the EPA to retore their funding (for updates, visit our GGRF page).
Public interest attorneys sued on behalf of 13 nonprofits and six cities across the nation impacted by unlawful grant terminations. In May 2025, a judge ordered the White House to restore these frozen funds. The case is being appealed. In June 2025, a class action suit was filed on behalf of all recipients of grants under several IRA environmental justice programs.
On February 10, 2025, local elected officials called on Congress to preserve clean energy tax credits and economic benefits. Current and former EPA employees wrote an open letter on March 20, 2025 condemning the funding freeze and detailing the harm it is causing.
On March 25, Democratic Senators released a list of 400 grants that the EPA intends to terminate, in violation of contracts the agency previously signed with the recipients. The Senators called on EPA to reverse these actions. Read more here.
Courts say that the Administration lacks authority to freeze or terminate funding because it is Congress that controls spending decisions. It is therefore important to watch the budget process in Congress, where legally binding cuts could occur. (See next question.)
Harvard’s Environmental and Energy Law Program published this explainer of the legal requirements for withholding funds at various stages of the grant process.
Some other lawsuits and legal issues are listed here and here.
The Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund provided this analysis of the Executive Orders (last update 2/17/25).
Unfortunately, your many calls to legislators did not prevent Congress from gutting much of the Inflation Reduction Act. The OBBB ends most clean energy tax credits much earlier than the IRA intended. Details vary by tax credit and are given in italics at the top of each page on this website. The bill also rescinded any unobligated funding (grant money appropriated by the IRA that had not yet been awarded), and made drastic cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs people rely on, while cutting taxes for the wealthy, and increasing the federal debt.
Thank you for contacting NC Senator Thom Tillis, where your actions did have an effect. Tillis has historically opposed clean energy advancements and pro-environmental policies, but voted to oppose the OBBB.
To learn more about the tax credits, visit our pages on the clean energy tax credit for homes, businesses, and nonprofits; the energy efficient home improvement credit; and the electric vehicle tax credit.
On the top of the page dedicated to that funding, we will add a note in italics when we have information about availability. If you don’t find a message there, contact us and we’ll help (info@energyfundsforall.org; 919-839-0006 ext. 103).
Some are and some aren’t. Links to government web pages on this website take you either to the actual government site (e.g., a lot of the IRS pages) or an archived web page from the Biden Administration. The archived pages either have a “Wayback Machine” logo in the upper left-hand corner, or their URL begins with bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov. Archived pages will no longer be updated and the links within those pages may or may not work.
If you are trying to find a web page that no longer exists, try entering the URL at archive.org to find an archived version. If the page was on whitehouse.gov, look for the same URL at bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov.
No-one knows for sure what funding will survive. Most efforts by the executive branch to cut funding are not legal since it is Congress that has authority over spending. Based on reports we’ve seen, the Administration seems most eager to cancel funding for wind energy, electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging, and climate/environmental justice. However, these programs are bringing jobs and dollars to both Red and Blue states, so their repeal will face opposition. See question #3 above for information on Congressional budget actions.
Federal grants that have been “obligated” should be safe. “Obligated” generally means the grant has been awarded and the recipient has signed a contract with the granting agency. However, grants funded on a “drawdown” or “reimbursement” basis (i.e., you bill the government in installments as you spend the funds) may face delays until court cases are settled and the funding freeze is lifted.
If the Administration ultimately attempts to block grants that have already been awarded, it may be faced with breach-of-contract lawsuits from grantees.
Consider reaching out to Lawyers for Good Government, which provides pro bono support to Federal grantees who are having difficulty accessing funds. They will track this violation and reach out to you about potential next steps.
These Recommendations for Local Governments and Their Community Partners from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network provide suggestions for grantees with and without finalized contracts.
Lawyers for Good Government, Environmental Protection Network (EPN), NRDC, Communities First, and others host gatherings of federal grantees on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 12:30-2pm Eastern. To attend, register here by 8pm Eastern the Monday before. See materials from past gatherings. Email Kathy Pope with questions/suggestions. Put “Office Hours Topic” in the subject line if you have a question you’d like addressed.
EPN can help if your grant is from the EPA. Their recommendations:
If you still have access to ASAP, consider trying to get as much of your funding as possible drawn down properly and legally. Make sure you are clear on your award obligations and 100% in compliance. For most grants, you have to spend these funds within 5 days (payroll, purchases, etc.). Take screenshots and document any changes in your ASAP to preserve the record. Do not draw down funds improperly; if you have questions, reach out to EPN’s contractors at epa-support@trccompanies.com, who can provide pro bono assistance.
If you are being denied a drawdown, document all your efforts to legally draw down funding from your ASAP account. Email your Program Officer, including details relevant to your grant, including actual harm being done. Consult with your legal counsel, if any, for help with the email.
If your ASAP account says that your funds are in “warehousing” and the effective date on your award is in the future, email Michelle Roos at EPN with the subject line “warehousing.” This may not be a concern but she will let you know if it is.
If you have questions on any of this, or if you are “in limbo,” e.g., if you have been selected but have not received your award or your award was signed but not emailed to you, contact EPN at info@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org.
The Southern Economic Advancement Project offers this 7-step action guide if your Federal grant or loan is frozen.
Visit this website to easily find contact info for your legislators and write them a message on any topic. Be sure to remind them about benefits your project will provide to their constituents (jobs, the economy, energy independence, decreased exposure to pollution, etc.)
Appalachian Voices offers toolkits to help Federal grant and loan recipients and the general public contact their legislators.
In this 7-step action guide, the Southern Economic Advancement Project offers a template for a letter to legislators for organizations whose Federal grant or loan is frozen.
Contact us! (info@energyfundsforall.org, 919-839-0006 ext. 103) We will connect you with media outlets and nonprofits that are looking for stories to tell.
The next nationwide round of protests is on July 17. Join a Good Trouble Lives On protest near you!
Yes! Email us at info@energyfundsforall.org or call us at 919-839-0006 ext. 103.
Energy Funds for All is a comprehensive resource guide that provides clear access to federal climate funds for homeowners, renters, municipalities, and more in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Stay updated as new funds become available, get tips on accessing the funds.
Given the changing status of federal policies and programs, we recommend contacting us via email at info@energyfundsforall.org or phone at 919-839-0006 ext. 103 to confirm program availability.
Learn more at our FAQs HERE and contact your legislators HERE.
