Written by Nathaniel Brooks.

On February 20, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed a startling discovery: $2 billion allocated to Power Forward Communities, a climate initiative tied to Democrat Stacey Abrams, despite the group reporting a mere $100 in revenue since its inception. This finding, spotlighted by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, has ignited scrutiny over the Biden administration’s handling of taxpayer funds under its Green New Deal push. For Americans concerned about government spending—or environmental justice—this revelation raises urgent questions about accountability and intent behind such a massive grant.

Unpacking the $2 Billion Grant

Power Forward Communities emerged in October 2023 as part of a coalition spearheaded by Rewiring America, a progressive outfit focused on electrification. Stacey Abrams, a prominent political figure, announced her role soon after, stating on Twitter/X, “Thrilled to be part of @rewiringamerica and the Power Forward Communities coalition.” She framed it as a mission to broaden clean energy access, emphasizing “housing, equity, and resilience” for all, regardless of income or location.

The group bills itself as a pioneer—“the first national program to finance home energy efficiency upgrades at scale.” Its stated goal: equip homeowners, renters, and developers with modern, efficient appliances to cut costs and pollution. Yet, despite logging just $100 in revenue by late 2023, the Biden-era EPA awarded it a $2 billion grant in 2024 via the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF). A press release from August 2024 hailed the seven-year award, projecting funds to flow into homes by early 2025, targeting low-income areas for “affordable decarbonization.”

For a single parent in Miami struggling with utility bills, this might sound promising—cheaper, greener living. But the math jars: how does an outfit with $100 in revenue merit $2 billion? Zeldin, on X, called it a “pass-through entity” in a Biden “gold bar” scheme, noting its 20-million-fold revenue disparity—a red flag that demands answers.

Zeldin’s Probe and Biden’s Legacy

Zeldin didn’t mince words. “I made a commitment to members of Congress and to the American people to be a good steward of tax dollars,” he told the Washington Free Beacon, decrying the Biden EPA’s rush to “park $20 billion outside the agency.” He flagged Power Forward’s grant as part of this broader $20 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, split among just eight recipients—$7 billion alone to the Climate United Fund. “We suspected some organizations were created out of thin air just to take advantage,” he said, a suspicion this $2 billion award seems to confirm.

The backstory amplifies the stakes. On February 12, Zeldin announced the EPA had unearthed these “gold bars off the Titanic”—$20 billion stashed in external entities before Trump’s inauguration. “This team was the first of its kind in EPA history,” he explained, designed to dole out funds fast with “reduced oversight.” Power Forward’s slice—20 million times its revenue—stands out as a glaring example of what he calls “far-reaching and widely accepted waste and abuse.”

For a taxpayer in Ohio, this hits hard—$2 billion could fund schools or roads, not a fledgling group with a dime to its name. Zeldin’s vow to “reassume responsibility” and audit “every penny” signals a Trump-era pivot—reining in what Biden’s team framed as climate progress but now faces as fiscal folly.

Broader Context and Implications

Power Forward’s grant isn’t isolated. The Biden EPA’s $20 billion fund, part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, aimed to turbocharge green projects—think solar panels, heat pumps—via select nonprofits and coalitions. Only eight got the nod, Power Forward among them, tasked with funneling cash to local efforts. Abrams’ involvement, tied to equity and resilience, fit the Green New Deal ethos—clean energy as social justice—but its $100 revenue base casts doubt on its capacity.

The optics sting worse given Rewiring America’s leftist bent—pushing electrification aligns with progressive goals, yet handing billions to a near-dormant partner risks tainting the mission. For a contractor in Georgia, where Abrams looms large, this might feel personal—local pride warped by scrutiny. Nationally, it’s a test: can the EPA claw back funds, or will they flow as planned in 2025, entrenching what Zeldin decries?

This isn’t just about one grant. The $20 billion pot—$7 billion to Climate United alone—hints at a rushed exit strategy as Biden’s term waned, a “gold bar” stash to lock in climate gains before Trump’s team took over. Zeldin’s probe could reshape environmental funding, but unraveling it demands precision—a tall order amid political heat.

Our Take

The EPA’s unearthing of $2 billion for Stacey Abrams’ Power Forward Communities lays bare a disconnect that’s hard to stomach—an outfit with $100 in revenue netting a windfall 20 million times its worth. Zeldin’s swift spotlight on this, part of a $20 billion Biden scheme, earns a nod for transparency; taxpayers deserve to know where their money goes. The intent—clean energy for the underserved—holds merit, but the execution reeks of haste, not strategy.

Yet, skepticism cuts both ways. Power Forward’s infancy doesn’t inherently doom its potential—startups scale fast with cash—but $2 billion demands vetting, not faith. Biden’s rush to “park” funds sidestepped oversight, a gamble Zeldin’s right to unwind. This could tighten fiscal reins, but if it stalls legit green efforts, the loss compounds. Accountability must trump politics here—anything less cheats the public twice.