DOE Cancels $4.9B Grain Belt Express Loan Across Midwest

The Trump administration has canceled a $4.9 billion Department of Energy loan guarantee for the Grain Belt Express, a major high-voltage transmission line intended to deliver wind and solar power from Kansas across the Midwest and into eastern cities. The DOE cited unlikely fulfillment of financial conditions and determined federal support was not critical for the project, which has been in development for over a decade and recently secured all state regulatory approvals. This move reflects a broader rollback of federal support for renewable energy projects under the new administration, aligning with Republican opposition to such initiatives and concerns from farmers over eminent domain. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, who opposed the project on behalf of landowners, publicly claimed credit for urging the cancellation, while the developer Invenergy argued the project would have boosted grid reliability, created jobs, and increased energy investment. The decision follows scrutiny of loans issued in the final days of the Biden administration, and comes as the Trump administration prioritizes other energy strategies, including nuclear and fossil fuels, over renewables.