OREGON, USA — The Trump administration is yanking $7.6 billion in grants supporting over 200 clean energy projects in 16 blue states, including Oregon and Washington. Those cuts include $1 billion for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub.

According to Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, the U.S. Department of Energy will axe $8 billion worth of energy projects, including nearly $450 million in federal grants for clean energy and grid improvement projects in Oregon. The Energy Department stated that the grants did not meet the “economic, national security or energy security standards necessary to justify continued investment.” 

According to the list, this includes about 19 awards in Oregon, including to recipients such as Portland General Electric, Warm Springs Power Enterprises and Daimler Truck North America.

RELATED: Daimler Truck aims to offer fully carbon-neutral trucks by 2039

Those canceled projects include upgrades to the electric grid, transmission, clean technology manufacturing, energy efficiency, charging infrastructure and workforce development, according to Climate Solutions, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Advocates and officials particularly highlighted the loss of $1 billion in funding for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub. The Biden administration had announced seven “hydrogen hubs” across the U.S. back in 2023, saying that they would help the country move away from fossil fuels and resulting greenhouse gases. 

Said hubs were to be made up of local governments, businesses, labor groups and researchers, to help develop, produce and distribute hydrogen fuels in a regional network that included Oregon, Washington state and Montana. The Northwest Hub, according to the Energy Department at the time, would have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 25 million metric tons per year — or the equivalent of the emissions of more than five million passenger cars — as well as create over 10,000 jobs. 

Hydrogen has been touted as a greener alterative for parts of the economy that are hard to electrify, like heavy industry, trucking, and the manufacture of carbon-intensive materials, like concrete and steel.

“PNWH2 will continue to support our project and industry partners that have laid the foundation for a thriving hydrogen ecosystem throughout the Pacific Northwest,” said the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association, in part. “With or without federal support, this industry will continue to drive the innovation and infrastructure needed to fortify America’s energy economy.” 

Many warned that the cancelations will kneecap revamping of the electric grid amid higher energy needs, and end up costing ratepayers more money. 

‘ON THE EDGE OF AN ENERGY CRISIS’: Forecasting the future of electricity in the Pacific Northwest

“Let’s be clear-eyed about the impact of this latest action by the federal government: it hurts our state’s ability to modernize our outdated electric grid and meet today’s rising energy demands with affordable clean energy, and Oregon families and businesses will be stuck with paying the tab,” said Nora Apter, Oregon director of Climate Solutions.

Director Janine Benner of the Oregon Department of Energy called the move “a significant setback.”

“Between these actions, various supply chain issues, tariffs on components, and federal agencies halting permitting even for projects not on federal lands, the federal government is making choices that may threaten reliability and will certainly increase costs for ratepayers,” Benner stated. 

Gov. Tina Kotek, in a statement, said the administration’s reversal “is not shocking,” calling it “the latest disappointment in the President’s history of prioritizing political posturing over the future we desperately need to build.”

RELATED: Oregon renews legal battle against Trump administration after it pulled out of Columbia River salmon restoration agreement

Washington state officials also condemned the general government’s action, saying it terminates more than $1.1 billion from the state’s 11 federally funded energy projects across five counties, the grants having already been awarded by Congress. 

Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson said that they are working with the attorney general to “fight this illegal action.” 

States that are affected include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington state.

This follows another round of the Trump administration targeting climate programs and clean energy grants; last week, the Department of Energy yanked back $13 billion, authorized by Congress in 2022, intended for clean energy projects. 

RELATED: Trump administration’s order halts Oregon’s EV infrastructure grants

Former KGW journalist Kale Williams contributed to the reporting of this story.