The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has once again shown its knack for burning through taxpayer money. With a July 22 announcement, the EPA is handing out a whopping $4.3 billion in grants for climate projects nationwide. It seems like President Joe Biden’s administration is making sure to lock in the cash for its green pals before he exits office in January.
These funds will go to 25 projects across 30 states, targeting greenhouse gas emissions from various sources like transportation, electric power, buildings, industry, agriculture, and waste management. The money comes from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program, part of the ironically named Inflation Reduction Act, Biden’s so-called landmark climate law.
Earlier this month, Biden’s Energy Department decided to contribute $1.7 billion to 11 electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing factories. Apparently, what we need are more unsellable EVs cluttering dealer lots.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan proudly told reporters that this administration has made the most significant climate investment in history, with billions funneled to state, local, and tribal governments to fight climate change. Sure, but at what cost to the average taxpayer?
Some of these projects are quite the spectacle. Pennsylvania’s statewide decarbonization initiatives target cement, asphalt, and other materials. Nebraska will get $307 million for “climate-smart” practices to reduce emissions from agriculture and waste. And let’s not forget the effort to install EV chargers for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles along an East Coast highway.
In Southern California, an air management district will receive $500 million to help decarbonize transportation and freight sectors, including Long Beach and Los Angeles ports. This includes funding for electric charging equipment, zero-emission freight vehicles, and converting cargo handling equipment to lower emissions.
The EPA’s climate grants continue the Biden administration’s tradition of tossing taxpayer money at the EV transition. However, timing is everything, and this administration seems to miss the mark. Unsold EVs are piling up, with Ford and GM cutting production and Ford losing over $100,000 per EV sale.
Then there’s the fiasco with electric school buses in Montgomery County, Maryland. An electric bus company missed delivery deadlines and made late repairs, causing millions in wasteful spending. Some buses had to get new batteries and dealt with high-voltage wiring issues. The school district is forking out $14 million for diesel buses due to the vehicle shortfall. Instead of decarbonizing, Montgomery County is back to using diesel.
This mess in Montgomery County stems from the same flawed thinking that if you fund or mandate it, they will come. Maryland passed a law in 2022 to cut greenhouse gases and boost EVs, including requiring new school buses to run on electric power. But, surprise, waivers are allowed because those in charge always know best.
Maryland’s electric school bus disaster is similar to the recent failure of an offshore wind turbine in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Both are examples of green technologies failing to deliver despite being heavily subsidized by taxpayers.
The ruling class keeps claiming to shield us from “existential threats,” but their grand schemes usually backfire, affecting ordinary people the most. The billions the EPA is doling out won’t impact the climate, but they will ensure more of our resources are wasted.
