Wright's Hairsplitting Statements About Canceled Energy Grants in Blue States - FactCheck.org

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has repeatedly denied political motives behind the termination of more than 280 clean energy grants last October, but a court filing made public in July shows DOE lawyers admitted the sole reason those specific grants were cut was that recipients were in Democratic-voting states. Of 284 grants that received termination notices, all but one were in states that voted for Kamala Harris and have two Democratic senators; 340 comparable grants in Trump-voting states were untouched. DOE told the court the selection was 'based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient's state,' not any programmatic or cost factor.

Wright has told Congress and CNN that decisions were 'all based on facts' and 'not on politics,' distinguishing between the original merit-based evaluation of 2,300 grants and the later 'timing' of which got cancellation notices. Two Democratic representatives have referred him to the Justice Department for allegedly lying to Congress, though experts say the referral likely goes nowhere since his hairsplitting defense is technically plausible. DOE's press office maintains his testimony was correct and no politics were involved.

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