Rep. Adam Niemerg Applauds Department of Energy’s Responsible Action on Grain Belt Express Project (Dieterich, IL) – State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) today praised the Department of Energy (DOE) for its decision to terminate the conditional commitment for the Grain Belt Express Phase 1 project.
This high-voltage direct current transmission line, intended to connect wind and solar energy capacity across Kansas and Missouri, was granted a taxpayer-funded loan guarantee of up to $4.9 billion by the previous lame duck administration in November 2024 – mere months before President Biden was going to leave office.
After a thorough review, the DOE has determined that the project does not meet the necessary conditions for federal support, reflecting a commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
“This project was forced on the people of central Illinois and the farmers and property owners’ opposition to it has consistently been ignored by both the Biden Administration and the Pritzker Administration,” Niemerg said. “I thank the Trump Administration for listening to the voice of rural residents and effectively pulling the plug on a project virtually no one in our region supports.”
The DOE is currently reviewing all applicants and borrowers, including nearly $100 billion in loans and commitments made between Election Day 2024 and Inauguration Day 2025. This proactive assessment is essential for ensuring that taxpayer funds are allocated to projects that truly benefit the American people.
“We need sound energy policies that prioritize the needs of American citizens – not the special interests profiting at our expense,” Niemerg said. “We need energy policies focused on accessibility, affordability and reliability and under the Trump Administration – that is exactly what we are getting.”
Rep. Adam Niemerg Applauds Department of Energy’s Responsible Action on Grain Belt Express Project
