Billions Down the Drain? 2025 Exposé Reveals Energy Project Boondoggles and the Taxpayer Toll
New Energy Department shake-ups in 2025 reveal billions wasted, fierce industry lobbying, and fresh risks for taxpayers and property owners.
- $10B+ in federal green energy grants and loans canceled by Energy Secretary Chris Wright in 2025
- $2.4T projected increase to U.S. deficit from new spending bill
- $9.63B direct loan awarded to Ford/SK On for electric vehicle battery plants
- $3B in taxpayer savings from recently rescinded energy grants
Federal spending on energy projects has come under intense scrutiny in 2025 as headline after headline exposes a stunning pattern: billions allocated, questionable results, and enormous taxpayer bills. Despite early Trump administration moves to cut back on several of the most controversial grants and loans, problems from Biden-era approvals still ripple nationwide.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently axed 24 high-dollar grants, totaling more than $3 billion in savings, and slashed an extra $7 billion in loans earlier this year. But these cuts barely dent the wave of taxpayer dollars funneled into corporate welfare, green tech promises, and high-risk infrastructure — with little accountability or tangible benefit for everyday Americans.
Below, we break down the five most eyebrow-raising projects, their tangled histories, and what taxpayers need to watch as 2025 spending ramps up again.
Q: Which Energy Projects Are Draining Tax Dollars?
The Energy Department approved a gigantic $9.63 billion direct loan to BlueOval SK LLC, a Ford-SK On joint venture, for EV battery factories in Tennessee and Kentucky. While BlueOval City in Tennessee pushes ahead, the Kentucky sites are mired in controversy—worker safety violations, toxic exposures, and costly construction delays. Property owners allege they were underpaid for their land as the state leveraged eminent domain.
The grant bonanza didn’t end at cars—giants like Exxon Mobil and Kraft Heinz raked in hundreds of millions in 2024 awards. Even as Exxon posted $33.7 billion in profits, the government authorized a $332 million hydrogen grant (since canceled), while Kraft Heinz secured up to $170.9 million for energy upgrades it pledged to fund itself anyway.
Lithium Americas nabbed a $2.26 billion loan to build new lithium facilities beside Nevada’s Thacker Pass, despite strong market demand and an expected $2.2 billion annual payoff—raising eyebrows about why taxpayer backing was needed at all. And steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs scored up to $575 million in green grants, another example of well-heeled companies cashing in on public funds.
How Did Property Owners Lose Out?
Tennessee’s state legislature not only awarded millions in tax credits to attract BlueOval but created an agency with sweeping powers—most controversially, the authority to seize private property for the project. Many locals were offered far less than market value for their land, fueling uproar and legal challenges.
Did Any Projects Improve Safety or the Environment?
Despite initial ambitions, the record is mixed. BlueOval’s Kentucky 1 plant faces state investigations over dozens of workplace injuries, mold outbreaks, chemical exposure risks, and blocked exits. Cleveland-Cliffs’ projects aim to cut emissions but haven’t yet proven measurable results. Meanwhile, canceled projects like Exxon’s hydrogen conversion could have advanced clean tech but struggled to justify taxpayer involvement given billion-dollar corporate profits.
What’s Next? Is the Spending Spree Over?
Not even close. Recent reporting hints that the Energy Department may back a $44 billion Alaska pipeline—a move that could ignite new debates on federal priorities and risk.
Taxpayers, watchdogs, and lawmakers are left asking: Who really benefits when mega-corporations get public cash, and when will oversight catch up?
How Can Taxpayers Stay Informed — and Protected?
- Track new federal grant announcements via official sources like energy.gov and whitehouse.gov.
- Follow nonpartisan watchdogs such as GAO for audit results and investigations.
- Voice concerns to local representatives, especially when property rights or local impacts are involved.
- Scrutinize corporate press releases for real, verifiable updates on project outcomes.
Stay Alert: Billions Are On the Line!
- ✔️ Watch for upcoming energy project approvals and cancellations.
- ✔️ Demand transparency on how public funds are spent.
- ✔️ Support policies that reward results, not just promises.
- ✔️ Share this report to keep friends and neighbors informed!
