{"id":293538,"date":"2024-01-02T17:12:27","date_gmt":"2024-01-02T16:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=293538"},"modified":"2024-01-02T17:12:30","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T16:12:30","slug":"the-climate-movement-suffered-a-slew-of-defeats-and-setbacks-in-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=293538","title":{"rendered":"The Climate Movement Suffered A Slew Of Defeats And Setbacks In 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"723\" data-attachment-id=\"293544\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=293544\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?fit=723%2C723&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=723%2C723&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-293544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=800%2C800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=400%2C400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=450%2C450&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=60%2C60&amp;ssl=1 60w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?resize=550%2C550&amp;ssl=1 550w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From The <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2024\/01\/01\/2023-setbacks-failures-climate-movement\/\">DAILY CALLER<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"528\" height=\"50\" data-attachment-id=\"293539\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=293539\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-52.png?fit=528%2C50&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"528,50\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image-52\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-52.png?fit=528%2C50&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-52.png?resize=528%2C50&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-293539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-52.png?w=528&amp;ssl=1 528w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-52.png?resize=300%2C28&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/author\/Nick+Pope\">NICK POPE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CONTRIBUTOR<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the climate movement achieved some victories this year, 2023 may ultimately be remembered mostly as a year of key failures and setbacks for environmentalist organizations and their favored policies promulgated by the Biden administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The past 12 months saw the collapse of several major offshore wind projects, signs of trouble in the electric vehicle (EV) market, layoffs at major environmentalist groups, a failed pressure campaign to kill a major energy project and more. Environmental activists and green industrial interests largely assumed that the election of President Joe Biden would stand as a boon for their various prerogatives, but this year\u2019s results were not stellar for those interests despite that initial enthusiasm.<strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/12\/29\/biden-epa-aggressive-2023\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(RELATED: \u2018Tremendously Damaging\u2019: Here\u2019s The Most Aggressive Restrictions Biden\u2019s EPA Pushed On Americans In 2023)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Biden Admin Doubles Down On Climate Cooperation With China As Xi&#39;s Economy Goes On Coal Binge <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NxYSoYMg3v\">https:\/\/t.co\/NxYSoYMg3v<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DailyCaller\/status\/1725035975296868572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 16, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Offshore Wind Flounders<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Biden administration and activists in favor of sweeping action on climate change have touted offshore wind as a green energy lynchpin of their envisioned fossil fuel-free future, with the White House&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2021\/03\/29\/fact-sheet-biden-administration-jumpstarts-offshore-wind-energy-projects-to-create-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">expecting<\/a>&nbsp;the technology to provide enough energy to power 10 million American homes each year by 2030. While the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Biden\u2019s signature climate bill, created generous subsidies designed to stimulate the industry, it is now facing serious problems that lead several energy policy experts to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/10\/26\/bailout-offshore-wind-looming-experts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">expect<\/a>&nbsp;the government will have to step in again to save the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Developers are facing considerable&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/09\/06\/offshore-wind-biden-climate-industry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">issues<\/a>&nbsp;attributable to inflationary pressure, supply chain backups and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/10\/06\/biden-offshore-wind-severe-logistical-infrastructure-problems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">logistical<\/a>&nbsp;issues. These problems have prompted numerous firms to attempt to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/09\/06\/green-energy-companies-renegotiate-contracts-costs-inflation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">renegotiate<\/a>&nbsp;their agreed-upon rates with states and utilities, pay large&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/10\/04\/offshore-wind-company-fine-contract-utility-trouble-industry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fines<\/a>&nbsp;to withdraw from contracts altogether or outright cancel their projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/11\/03\/biden-climate-bill-economy-offshore-wind-orsted-cancellations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00d8rsted<\/a>, a Danish wind company with a major American presence, may have had the roughest 2023 of any firm in the industry. In October, the company announced that it had\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/10\/31\/leading-offshore-wind-company-orsted-cancels-two-projects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cancelled<\/a>\u00a0two of its major projects off the coast of New Jersey, citing the poor state of the wider economy and the associated impacts on the projects\u2019 ability to be profitable in the long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, the administration\u2019s August offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/08\/29\/biden-offshore-wind-leases-flop-gulf-of-mexico\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">underwhelmed<\/a>, with only one of the three areas available attracting any interest from bidders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, the Biden administration\u2019s 2030 target appears to be firmly out of reach, largely because of the considerable financial challenges the industry faces,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/bidens-offshore-wind-target-slipping-out-reach-projects-struggle-2023-09-15\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according<\/a>&nbsp;to Reuters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">EV Dreams Show Cracks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Environmentalists and Biden administration officials are also pushing EVs as a key climate solution, with the latter spending billions of taxpayer dollars and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/04\/12\/biden-admin-two-thirds-electric-cars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">aggressively<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/07\/28\/biden-admin-fires-next-regulatory-salvo-in-its-ev-push\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">regulating<\/a>\u00a0markets to reach its\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2021\/08\/05\/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-steps-to-drive-american-leadership-forward-on-clean-cars-and-trucks\/#:~:text=Specifically%2C%20the%20President%20will%20sign,or%20fuel%20cell%20electric%20vehicles.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">goal<\/a>\u00a0of having 50% of new vehicle sales be EVs by 2030. Despite these efforts, the EV market appears to be faltering:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/11\/08\/biden-electric-vehicles-consumer-demand-cooling-subsidies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">consumer demand<\/a>\u00a0is not growing as quickly as expected, manufacturers are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/10\/08\/evs-are-costing-auto-manufacturers-billions-while-union-strikes-take-their-toll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">losing<\/a>\u00a0large amounts of money on their EV product lines and executives are starting to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/10\/31\/automobile-executives-companies-pump-brakes-electric-vehicle-goals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">back off<\/a>\u00a0of near-term EV commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">China&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/08\/29\/china-biden-mining-strategy-green-agenda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dominates<\/a>&nbsp;the global supply chain for the raw materials needed to manufacture EVs, and the vehicles are considerably more expensive on average than gas-powered equivalents. For example, the Ford F-150 Lighting, the EV version of one of America\u2019s most popular cars,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cars.usnews.com\/cars-trucks\/advice\/ford-f-150-vs-ford-f-150-lightning?slide=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sells<\/a>&nbsp;for about $8,000 more than the conventional F-150.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the higher costs, consumers tend to worry about the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/10\/21\/electric-vehicle-proponents-road-trips-proving-point-shortcomings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">inconsistent performance<\/a>\u00a0and uneven geographical\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/afdc.energy.gov\/fuels\/electricity_locations.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">distribution<\/a>\u00a0of the nation\u2019s charging infrastructure. Even Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is not impervious to this problem, as one of her staffers raced ahead of her convoy during a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/09\/12\/joni-ernst-biden-jennifer-grenholm-electric-vehicle-trip\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">summer road trip<\/a>\u00a0promoting EVs to reserve a spot at a Georgia charging station with a gas-powered car. The police were reportedly called when a family with a baby in tow grew angry that the staffer would not move for them to use the charging port, even though Granholm and the rest of the convoy had not yet arrived to plug in.\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/12\/12\/biden-electric-vehicle-stock\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(RELATED: Biden Admin Touted EV Charging Company To Support Climate Agenda. Now, Its Stock Is Tanking)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Activist Layoffs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The past year also saw considerable layoffs at prominent eco-activist organizations, such as the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Defenders of Wildlife,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.eenews.net\/articles\/green-groups-are-laying-off-staff-what-gives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according<\/a>\u00a0to E&amp;E News. After the defeat of former President Donald Trump, whose energy agenda provided a boost to enthusiasm and donations supporting the environmentalist cause, many major environmentalist organizations faced considerable budget shortfalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Sierra Club&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.eenews.net\/articles\/sierra-club-announces-layoffs-restructuring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">laid off<\/a>&nbsp;dozens of employees starting in April, which prompted&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/09\/08\/gaslit-disrespected-major-environmental-war-race-equity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">infighting<\/a>&nbsp;over issues of race and \u201cequity\u201d within the organization in the ensuing months. NRDC similarly laid off dozens of its staffers later in the year, and Defenders of Wildlife laid off more than a dozen of its own employees in the spring as well, according to E&amp;E News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Notable Bankruptcy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proterra, an electric bus manufacturer,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/08\/07\/proterra-jennifer-granholm-conflict-interest-bankruptcy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">filed<\/a>&nbsp;for bankruptcy in August. Prior to the bankruptcy, the Biden administration had promoted the company, a move which prompted blowback from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/02\/04\/ralph-norman-joe-biden-administration-green-energy-interests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">elected Republicans<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/08\/15\/watchdogs-biden-jennifer-granholm-resignation-letter-energy-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">government watchdogs<\/a>&nbsp;that highlighted Granholm maintained a financial interest in the firm after accepting a government job in which she would be overseeing policy that directly impacted the company\u2019s commercial prospects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Granholm did not sell her shares in the company until after the House Oversight Committee&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/05\/13\/department-of-energy-john-barrasso-jennifer-granholm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">opened<\/a>&nbsp;an investigation into the apparent conflict of interest earlier in May 2021. She eventually&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/05\/28\/energy-secretary-jennifer-granholm-electric-vehicles-republicans-ethics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">closed<\/a>&nbsp;her position in the firm later that month, netting capital gains amounting to about $1.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, Granholm is alleged to have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/01\/21\/jennifer-granholm-stock-act-nine-violations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">violated<\/a>&nbsp;the STOCK Act nine times in 2021, a fact which a Department of Energy(DOE) spokesperson said at the time was attributable to \u201can inadvertent clerical oversight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Willow Project Campaign Comes Up Short<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Activists launched a broad pressure campaign to goad the Biden administration into cancelling ConocoPhillips\u2019 massive Willow Project in Alaska, which ultimately failed when the administration formally&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/03\/13\/biden-approves-willow-over-green-fears\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">green lit<\/a>&nbsp;the project in March. Many inside the climate movement were livid with the administration\u2019s decision, characterizing it as a betrayal of a Biden campaign&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/04\/18\/environmental-groups-joe-biden-interior-department-oil-gas-drilling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">promise<\/a>&nbsp;to severely crack down on oil and gas drilling on federally-controlled lands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recently, climate activists have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/12\/27\/alaska-failure-willow-eco-left-new-target\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">set<\/a>&nbsp;their sights on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/venturegloballng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/CP2-FactSheet.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Calcasieu Pass 2<\/a>&nbsp;project, known as CP2, which would be a major export terminal facility for liquefied natural gas (LNG) located to the south of Lake Charles, Louisiana. They appear poised to ratchet up pressure on the Biden administration to kill the project much like they did with the Willow Project, though time will tell whether or not such a campaign could be successful in its aims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the push to kill the Willow Project fell flat, Tommy Beaudreau, the former deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/10\/04\/bide-official-interior-step-aside-activist-pressure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">left<\/a>&nbsp;the administration in October after activists targeted him constantly for his support of the Willow Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trouble In The Loan Programs Office<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOE\u2019s Loan Programs Office (LPO) also had a tough 2023. The LPO is a key instrument in the Biden administration\u2019s wider green energy push, designed to provide green energy companies with loans that the private sector would not offer,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/lpo\/mission\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according<\/a>&nbsp;to the office\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Daily Caller News Foundation reported in November that the LPO had reached a conditional commitment to provide Li-Cycle, a lithium battery recycling company, a $375 million loan at the same time that the firm was allegedly defrauding its investors. The LPO does due diligence on its applicants before reaching a conditional commitment, according to its website, meaning that the alleged securities fraud went unnoticed by the relevant LPO officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In September, the LPO also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/lpo\/articles\/doe-announces-3-billion-partial-loan-guarantee-sunnovas-project-hestia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">extended<\/a>&nbsp;a $3 billion package to Sunnova, a solar company that allegedly preyed on elderly customers on their deathbeds by talking them into signing multi-decade, five-figure rooftop solar contracts,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/energy\/biden-admin-gave-3-billion-loan-to-solar-company-accused-of-scamming-elderly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according<\/a>&nbsp;to The Washington Free Beacon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These loans have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/12\/07\/republicans-demand-answers-jigar-shah-energy-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sparked<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/11\/21\/john-barrasso-department-energy-loan-programs-office-shah-li-cycle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">demands<\/a>&nbsp;from Republican lawmakers, who are seeking information and internal documents regarding the LPO\u2019s internal practices and safeguards.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/09\/19\/top-biden-energy-official-unsustainable-replace-gas-cars-evs-decrease-driving\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jigar Shah<\/a>, who runs the LPO, was hauled into Congress to testify in front of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in October, when Republican Sens.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/10\/19\/josh-hawley-grills-energy-department-loan-jigar-shah-appearance-conflicting-interests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Josh Hawley<\/a>&nbsp;of Missouri and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/10\/19\/barrasso-grills-jigar-shah-energy-department-loans-ties-green-energy-trade-group\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">John Barrasso<\/a>&nbsp;of Wyoming grilled him about his continued association with a green energy trade group despite potential appearances of ethical impropriety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither the White House nor the DOE responded to the DCNF\u2019s requests for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter\u2019s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the climate movement achieved some victories this year, 2023 may ultimately be remembered mostly as a year of key failures and setbacks for environmentalist organizations and their favored policies promulgated by the Biden administration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":293544,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"While the climate movement achieved some victories this year, 2023 may ultimately be remembered mostly as a year of key failures and setbacks for environmentalist organizations and their favored policies promulgated by the Biden administration.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691819255,691818056,691820954,691821977,691818301,691819094,691818864,691825900],"class_list":{"0":"post-293538","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-climate-activism","9":"tag-climate-change","10":"tag-department-of-energy-doe","11":"tag-electric-vehicles-evs","12":"tag-offshore-wind","13":"tag-renewable-green-energy","14":"tag-the-biden-administration","15":"tag-willow-project","17":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/FyeBjjuXgAAp9Vg.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1emu","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":351017,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=351017","url_meta":{"origin":293538,"position":0},"title":"\u2018Trump Wins, Planet Loses\u2019 \u2013 Morano heads to UN\u2019s COP29 in Azerbaijan \u2013 Gore depressed \u2013 Bernie Sanders: \u2018Struggle against climate change is over\u2019","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/13\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"This year\u2019s summit is being dubbed the \u201cfinance COP\u201d because climate and green energy lobbyists are descending on the event to try to funnel even more U.S. taxpayer money into their pockets.","rel":"","context":"In \"agricultural climate restrictions\"","block_context":{"text":"agricultural climate restrictions","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=agricultural-climate-restrictions"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-314.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-314.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-314.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-314.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":292867,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=292867","url_meta":{"origin":293538,"position":1},"title":"\u2018We Never Had A Vote\u2019: Climate Expert Blasts Biden Admin For Bypassing Voters To Impose Green Agenda","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/28\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Climate Depot executive editor Marc Morano blasted President Joe Biden for bypassing American voters to enact his environmental agenda.","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate change\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate change","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-change"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0Screenshot-2023-12-28-165530.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0Screenshot-2023-12-28-165530.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0Screenshot-2023-12-28-165530.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0Screenshot-2023-12-28-165530.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0Screenshot-2023-12-28-165530.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":395880,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=395880","url_meta":{"origin":293538,"position":2},"title":"From Green Dreams to Grief Counseling: The Climate Lobby in Five Stages","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"08\/18\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The\u00a0New York Times\u00a0recently published a piece titled\u00a0\u201cEnvironmental Groups Face \u2018Generational\u2019 Setbacks Under Trump\u201d,\u00a0and the tone could not have been more funereal. For an industry of professional alarmists, one might say grief is their natural habitat. But this time the grief isn\u2019t over melting glaciers or theoretical sea-level rise a century\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Acceptance (Not Quite Yet)\"","block_context":{"text":"Acceptance (Not Quite Yet)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=acceptance-not-quite-yet"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AQMkVUm7cS6nSpU3W01hVrmvsXU-P8kGp-t-3H1zXbTO3seAzNAyVE5nTXTR7SnHJlv4kkU3ElQwjbvP1LCcUSwnuuVMrMlKjUhVmhViV0i3cLej1WnlEh_4D2fQcVVGtAwSa5erFdyvurm608zeB3B1_DuEA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AQMkVUm7cS6nSpU3W01hVrmvsXU-P8kGp-t-3H1zXbTO3seAzNAyVE5nTXTR7SnHJlv4kkU3ElQwjbvP1LCcUSwnuuVMrMlKjUhVmhViV0i3cLej1WnlEh_4D2fQcVVGtAwSa5erFdyvurm608zeB3B1_DuEA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AQMkVUm7cS6nSpU3W01hVrmvsXU-P8kGp-t-3H1zXbTO3seAzNAyVE5nTXTR7SnHJlv4kkU3ElQwjbvP1LCcUSwnuuVMrMlKjUhVmhViV0i3cLej1WnlEh_4D2fQcVVGtAwSa5erFdyvurm608zeB3B1_DuEA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AQMkVUm7cS6nSpU3W01hVrmvsXU-P8kGp-t-3H1zXbTO3seAzNAyVE5nTXTR7SnHJlv4kkU3ElQwjbvP1LCcUSwnuuVMrMlKjUhVmhViV0i3cLej1WnlEh_4D2fQcVVGtAwSa5erFdyvurm608zeB3B1_DuEA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AQMkVUm7cS6nSpU3W01hVrmvsXU-P8kGp-t-3H1zXbTO3seAzNAyVE5nTXTR7SnHJlv4kkU3ElQwjbvP1LCcUSwnuuVMrMlKjUhVmhViV0i3cLej1WnlEh_4D2fQcVVGtAwSa5erFdyvurm608zeB3B1_DuEA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":336625,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=336625","url_meta":{"origin":293538,"position":3},"title":"Progressive climate group Sunrise Movement says Biden should \u2018pass the torch\u2019","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"07\/16\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Sunrise Movement, a progressive, youth-led climate group, is calling on President Biden to step aside from the 2024 race after his abysmal debate performance spurred Democratic anxiety about his ability to beat former President Trump.","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate Group\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate Group","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-group"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0Screenshot-2024-07-16-123929.png?fit=1087%2C592&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0Screenshot-2024-07-16-123929.png?fit=1087%2C592&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0Screenshot-2024-07-16-123929.png?fit=1087%2C592&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0Screenshot-2024-07-16-123929.png?fit=1087%2C592&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0Screenshot-2024-07-16-123929.png?fit=1087%2C592&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":284818,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=284818","url_meta":{"origin":293538,"position":4},"title":"Navigator CO2 Ventures cancels carbon-capture pipeline project in US Midwest","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/24\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"A\u00a0BlackRock Inc.-backed plan to build a pipeline that would capture carbon emissions from the US corn ethanol industry was scrapped in the face of regulatory obstacles and opposition from landowners. Another major CCS pipeline project proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions has also faced setbacks amid landowner concerns. From Watts Up\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"carbon capture and storage (CCS)\"","block_context":{"text":"carbon capture and storage (CCS)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=carbon-capture-and-storage-ccs"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-666.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-666.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-666.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-666.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-666.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":379609,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=379609","url_meta":{"origin":293538,"position":5},"title":"Climate and Energy in Trump&#8217;s Big Beautiful Bill &#8211; The Climate Realism Show\u00a0#158","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/23\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Join Heartland\u2019s Anthony Watts, Linnea Lueken, H. Sterling Burnett, Jim Lakely, and special guest Steve Milloy LIVE at 1 p.m. ET for Episode #158 of The Climate Realism Show. We\u2019ll break down the good, the bad, and the disappointing in the Big Beautiful Bill. We\u2019ll also cover the Crazy Climate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"\u201cgreen\u201d energy and climate policies\"","block_context":{"text":"\u201cgreen\u201d energy and climate policies","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=green-energy-and-climate-policies"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0Screenshot-2025-05-23-180548.png?fit=1200%2C659&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0Screenshot-2025-05-23-180548.png?fit=1200%2C659&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0Screenshot-2025-05-23-180548.png?fit=1200%2C659&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0Screenshot-2025-05-23-180548.png?fit=1200%2C659&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0Screenshot-2025-05-23-180548.png?fit=1200%2C659&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=293538"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293538\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":293545,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293538\/revisions\/293545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/293544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=293538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=293538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=293538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}