The Modesto Bee reported on June 17 that Gallo Glass lost a $3.7 billion grant from the Department of Energy. The grant’s purpose was to fund a hydroelectric meter with the aim of lowering the glass plant’s natural gas usage. Trump-appointed Senator Chris Wright cut the grant in an effort to reduce government spending, and the cuts currently face pushback from California officials.
Those in opposition claimed the funding would have led to a 70 percent reduction of natural gas emissions. Yet Wright claimed in a letter that the grants were wasteful, and they did not yield adequate returns.
“While the previous administration failed to conduct a thorough financial review before signing away billions of taxpayer dollars, the Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment,” said Secretary Wright according to The Modesto Bee. “Today, we are acting in the best interest of the American people by canceling these 24 awards.”
Yet California senators are questioning whether these cuts are even legal. Senator Adam B. Shiff and Senator Alex Padilla penned a letter to Wright expressing “deep concern” over the Department of Energy’s cuts.
“These unlawful terminations represent a significant setback for American energy independence, and they undermine California and America’s leadership in the globally competitive clean energy industry,” the letter read. “We urge you to work with recipients to reinstate their grant awards.”
The letter claimed such cuts based on “political whim[s]” would lead to an increase in energy costs.
“DOE’s attacks on cutting-edge clean energy projects run counter ot our shared interest in boosting energy production, innovation and economic vitality,” the letter read. “The United States cannot afford to halt our progress and hinder American companies’ efforts to move beyond outdated technologies if we hope to remain competitive and truly energy dominant around the globe.”
About Gallo Glass — A Sustainable Resource Within California’s Wine Industry
Gallo Glass dates back to 1958, and the Modesto-based glass plant focused heavily on sustainability since its inception. The plant produces glass from natural materials and recycled glass. Gallo shares that it was the first to implement oxy-fuel technology to make glass wine bottles. The company reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by 80%.
Gallo Glass buys over 20% of recycled glass from within the state of California. The brand shares that each bottle consists of 75% recycled glass and that it recycles approximately 93% of its water.
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