Back to Topics
Policy

Rep. Nancy Mace Urges Trump Administration to Release Biden-Era Climate Funds for EV Plant

9 days ago
5 min read
1 news sources
Share:
Rep. Nancy Mace Urges Trump Administration to Release Biden-Era Climate Funds for EV Plant

Key Insights

  • Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has requested the Trump administration to unfreeze Biden-era climate funding to support a Mercedes-Benz EV plant in her district.

  • The project, seeking $300,000 in federal grants, aims to create 800 jobs and bolster domestic EV production.

  • Mace's appeal contrasts with her support for House GOP spending cuts to green energy tax credits.

  • The Trump administration's freeze on climate funding has sparked legal challenges and bipartisan concerns over economic impacts.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has called on the Trump administration to release Biden-era climate funding earmarked for a Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle (EV) plant in her South Carolina district, according to a report by The Washington Post. The funding, part of a $300,000 federal grant, would support the retooling of the plant to produce EVs, potentially creating 800 jobs in the region.

In a letter addressed to Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Mace emphasized the project's role in ensuring "America-made options remain available in the commercial vehicle sector." The request comes despite Mace's recent backing of a House-passed spending bill that slashes green energy tax credits, highlighting the tension between local economic interests and broader GOP fiscal priorities.

President Trump halted the disbursement of Biden-era climate funds earlier this year as part of his broader efforts to curb government spending and eliminate perceived waste. The move has drawn criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, particularly in districts where frozen funds threaten job-creating projects. Legal challenges have also emerged, including a recent court ruling blocking the administration from withholding EV charging infrastructure grants.

Mace's appeal underscores the political complexities surrounding climate funding. While she supports Trump's fiscal restraint, her district's economic needs have prompted her to advocate for exceptions. The Senate is now deliberating its version of the spending bill, which may adopt a more moderate stance on renewable energy cuts compared to the House.