MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that Wisconsin and a coalition of states secured a court order protecting federal funding for state energy programs intended to help residents and municipalities in Wisconsin save energy and improve resilience.
In August, Wisconsin joined a coalition in filing a lawsuit to block a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) policy that capped reimbursement for indirect and fringe costs at 10 percent. The coalition argued that the policy violated federal law, ignored previously negotiated cost agreements, and threatened states’ ability to administer federally funded programs.
The court ruled that DOE’s attempt to impose the cap was unlawful.
“Wisconsin’s state energy program shouldn’t be undermined by unlawful action by the Trump administration,” said AG Kaul. “This ruling is a win for that program.”
In Wisconsin, DOE’s cap would have cut state energy program funding for indirect and fringe costs from nearly $370,000 to $130,000, creating staffing gaps, limiting oversight, and disrupting support for local energy projects and statewide resilience.
Joining AG Kaul in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia; and the Governor of Kentucky.
View this press release on the DOJ website here.
