The United States government shutdown is leading to more pollution and announcements of clean energy project cuts. Beginning on October 1, the US federal government ceased all activity after the Republicans, with a majority in both House and Senate, and the Democrats failed to pass a budget for the coming year. Without funds, federal agencies and workers cannot perform their normal jobs, leading to an abrupt halt to all government work.

This sudden pause impacts more than just the workers forced to abandon their roles: President Trump is using this time to cut more funding for clean energy development and lay off more government workers, all while emissions increase at plants across the country.

The what and why of the US government shutdown

The federal government shutdown was caused by the US Congress’ inability to pass a federal budget for the coming year. The Republican party holds the majority in the Senate, but a federal budget requires 60 votes to pass, ensuring some of the senators from the minority party must sign off on the annual bill.

“The U.S. federal government has to pass appropriation bills to keep its doors ‘open’, said William Hatcher, chair of the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University, to Renewable Matter. “The president presents a comprehensive budget to Congress, and Congress is supposed to pass its budget with the president signing it by October 1, the start of the new fiscal year.”

With less than 60 members, Republicans cannot pass the budget until they compromise with Democratic demands, in this case the reinstatement of health care subsidies. But that doesn’t mean the federal government stops completely.

“When a shutdown occurs, the federal executive branch under the president determines the essential works and the employees who do not work during the shutdown,” explained Hatcher. Essentially, the president determines which government workers continue working as usual during the shutdown and which are forced to remain home.

Casualties of the government shutdown

In early October, it was reported that the Department of Energy (DOE) canceled up to $8 billion in clean energy funding meant to support projects in 16 different states. In a statement, the DOE claimed that the projects didn’t meet the agency’s standards of economic viability and energy production.

One of these projects is Esmeralda 7: seven solar farms over 25,000 hectares of federal land projected to power enough energy for two million homes. Before the shutdown, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) listed the project as ‘pending’, but it is now labeled as ‘canceled.’

In a statement reacting to the news, BLM stated, “During routine discussions prior to the lapse in appropriations, the proponents and BLM agreed to change their approach for the Esmeralda 7 Solar Project in Nevada.” Esmeralda was approved during President Joe Biden’s administration, with the Trump administration now requiring the awardees to “submit individual project proposals,” for the previously approved solar farms.

Esmeralda 7 is only one of a total of reported 223 projects terminated. And while the timing of clawing back this funding is less than ideal, Brad Townsend, Vice President of US Policy and Outreach at C2ES is more focused on the larger picture of the energy sector.

“My biggest concern is that we’re making the U.S. energy sector un-investable,” said Townsend to Renewable Matter. "Investors have lost billions of dollars already, having helped companies purchase land equipment, navigate complex legal and regulatory processes, and in many cases hire people, only to have the federal government light those investments on fire.” Townsend isn’t alone in believing the energy sector is now open for a new world leader to grab the U.S.’s former top spot.

“[Europeans] should be copying the stuff that [the U.S.] is doing on virtual power plants and on green enhancing technologies,” stated Jigar Shah, former director of the DOE Loan Programs Office during the Biden administration and co-founder of advising firm Multiplier, to Renewable Matter. Specifically, Shah believes countries like the UK and those within the EU should focus on developing battery technology and virtual power plants while funding is still readily available within their central governments.

Layoffs and pollution

Government workers aren’t faring much better. The Trump administration has attempted to lay off a total of 4,100 federal workers during the shutdown, a move recently halted by a San Francisco, CA-based US-district judge.

“There are laws which govern how we can do the things we do,” said US District Judge Susan Illston in a hearing on October 15, “Including laws which govern how we do (reductions in force). And the activities being undertaken here are contrary to the laws.” Additionally, losing agency staff during a shutdown causes negative byproducts.

A study recently published in the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists found that coal-fired power plants saw a daily increase of particulate matter emissions due to the lack of federal infrastructure. Particulate matter is the tiny solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air.

The data comes from the 2018-2019 federal government shutdown, with the authors positing that an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with less funding and a reduced staff can lead to higher, more dangerous emissions due to a lack of proper regulation. There are currently around 197 active coal-fired plants in the United States. In addition to increased emissions, data analyzed from past shutdowns shows this type of disruption can lead to more than just high rates of turnover, according to Hatcher.

“Research in public administration shows that past shutdowns have made it difficult for federal agencies to maintain quality employees,” continued Hatcher. “Such disruptions hinder public service in the U.S.” While nothing is certain, this research implies that the shutdown will lead to employee turnover, which will then lead to diminished returns regarding agency regulation and effectiveness.

Also read: The green dragon: China now holds the climate leadership

In copertina: foto di AFGE via Flickr