Former DOE Loan Chief Helps Green Tech Firms Seek Europe Funding Amid US Uncertainty

Several green energy companies that received billions in loans and grants during the Biden administration are now considering relocating to Europe due to uncertainty and cuts in U.S. federal funding under the Trump administration. Jigar Shah, former director of the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, has been facilitating discussions with European officials about moving these companies overseas, highlighting the EU's opportunity to attract them with incentives. Europe is advancing a €600 million package to support clean-tech manufacturing and is fast-tracking new state-aid frameworks, although European clean-tech firms face their own financial challenges. Meanwhile, U.S. offshore wind projects such as Equinor’s Empire Wind near New York have been halted by the Department of the Interior over environmental review concerns, sparking criticism from New York officials who emphasize the project's importance for jobs and clean energy goals. The Trump administration has paused offshore wind leasing and construction, citing rushed approvals and inadequate consultations during the Biden era, with local stakeholders raising concerns about the permitting process. These developments reflect broader tensions between the U.S. and Europe in the clean energy sector and highlight the challenges of balancing rapid green energy deployment with regulatory and environmental safeguards.