Kaptur and Murray Demand DOE Halt $350M Carbon Capture Funds Used to Restart Coal Plants

Democratic appropriators Marcy Kaptur and Patty Murray sent a letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright demanding the Department of Energy stop using $350 million in carbon capture funds to restart and recommission coal-fired power plants. The funds were appropriated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for carbon capture pilot and demonstration projects, not for propping up uneconomic coal plants. The lawmakers argue this violates the Antideficiency Act and that DOE has failed to provide any legal justification after eight months of correspondence. DOE selected four awards under its Restoring Reliability: Coal Recommissioning and Modernization notice. Two projects fund restarting existing coal plants with carbon capture only as a study. Two others fund new-build concepts with capture still at the design stage. None include construction or operation of actual carbon capture technology. Kaptur and Murray call this a misuse of public funds that raises costs for families and undercuts Congress's intent to cut pollution and lower energy costs. The letter demands DOE halt all obligations of these funds until it demonstrates compliance with the law, and requests detailed responses by August 7. This is a significant test of whether the administration can redirect clean energy appropriations to extend the life of coal plants without congressional approval.