Lofgren, Science Democrats Condemn Illegal Elimination of the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations

December 18, 2025 Press Release WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Science Committee Democratic Members sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright condemning the illegal elimination of the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). OCED was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) with the purpose of cultivating the expertise required to provide high-quality, technology-independent management for large, commercially focused energy demonstration projects at DOE. The IIJA explicitly called for the establishment of OCED, and therefore DOE’s elimination of this office is undeniably illegal. Not only that, the dissolution of OCED increases the likelihood of project failures and taxpayer losses related to large-scale energy demonstration projects under DOE’s purview. “It is worth remembering why Congress created OCED, for it was not a random or careless decision,” the Members wrote in their letter . “In the years preceding OCED’s creation, Congress witnessed the existing technology offices within DOE repeatedly struggle to manage large-scale energy demonstration projects, particularly projects related to nuclear technologies and carbon capture and storage technologies. The track records of these offices in managing large demonstration projects were extremely poor.” “When the Department of Energy (DOE) eliminated OCED in its reorganization, it did more than jeopardize multi-billion dollar demonstration programs and risk long-term setbacks in the deployment of innovative energy technologies that are crucial for the nation’s energy future,” the Members continued . “DOE broke the law – brazenly, shamelessly broke the law – and violated the separation of powers that stands at the heart of our constitutional system. Every day that this defiance continues is a travesty. The only way for DOE to stop offending our constitutional order is to reverse course immediately, reconstitute OCED, and restore the rightful authorities that were assigned to it by Congress.” The letter was signed by Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR). The letter can be found here . Issues : Energy and Environment