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DOE Reclaims Clean Energy Grants, Affecting 24 Projects Nationwide

Clean Energy

Business Honor
02 June, 2025

Startups and large corporations are impacted by the Trump administration's termination of $3.7 billion in clean energy awards.

The Department of Energy stated that it will be regaining $3.7 billion in manufacturing and sustainable energy grants given under the Biden administration. The decision affected both expanding startups and large enterprises.

Chris Wright, the secretary of energy, described the actions as part of the Trump administration's "due diligence." Chris referred to a memo he issued on May 15 that implies the department may try to utilize its audit authorities to revoke the grants, but he did not provide specific reasons for the project’s cancellation. The action impacts 24 projects in total, including those being built by food firm Kraft Heinz, cement and alumina startup Brimstone, cement startup Sublime Systems, industrial heat startup Skyven, and oil and gas behemoth Exxon Mobil.

In an email statement, spokesperson Rob Kreis expressed that Sublime was both surprised and disappointed by the termination of its Industrial Demonstrations Program award. He pointed to the company’s clear progress in scaling its U.S. developed technology, forming partnerships with major cement producers in the Western world, and building a strong base of reliable customers. Kreis added that the company is currently evaluating its options to continue growing its business. Brimstone is optimistic that a resolution with the DOE may be possible.

In an email to TechCrunch, Brimstone spokesperson Liza Darwin said the company believes there was a misunderstanding, highlighting that their project closely aligns with President Trump’s goal of boosting U.S. production of critical minerals. She clarified that the only economically feasible way to generate alumina in the United States currently is through Brimstone's Rock Refinery.

Darwin also highlighted that the facility would be the first alumina plant built in the U.S. in a generation. In addition to producing Portland cement, the project would establish a full “mine-to-metal” supply chain for aluminum, strengthening the country’s access to critical minerals and creating thousands of jobs.