Connecticut officials say federal clean energy grants remain withheld despite court rulings
Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Gov. Ned Lamont said the Trump administration has not released federal clean energy grants that a court found were illegally canceled. The grants included about $53 million for Connecticut recipients such as UConn and RTX. The officials said the administration has ignored the rulings and withheld the funds for political reasons.
Connecticut officials said federal clean energy grants canceled a year earlier remain withheld. They cited two judgments issued in January and June by U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta that concluded the administration violated the law. The decisions applied to part of $7.6 billion in canceled grants.
Twelve of 284 canceled grants were designated for eight Connecticut recipients, including UConn and RTX; RTX was set to receive four. Blumenthal said $53 million was owed to the state’s recipients. Thirty-seven senators, including Blumenthal, urged Energy Secretary Chris Wright on July 30 to release the funds.
The delay may leave universities, manufacturers, and research teams without expected funding, potentially slowing projects and local economic activity. Connecticut residents could see fewer benefits from federally supported clean energy work. If courts are seen as unable to compel compliance, public confidence in legal remedies may weaken. Conversely, continued litigation could clarify limits on executive spending decisions.