Green subsidy or budget claim
6 cases in 6 countries, 2008–2021. Most cases: United States (2), United Kingdom (1), Canada (1), EU (1), Panama (1).
UK Green Homes Grant: National Audit Office findings
In September 2021 the National Audit Office reported that the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, with £1.5 billion made available, was forecast to support energy efficiency measures in 47,500 homes against an initial expectation of 600,000. The Department expected to spend £313.8 million in total, of which £50.5 million was administration and programme costs.
Canada's Emissions Reduction Fund, Onshore Program for oil and gas: audit by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
In November 2021 Canada's Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development reported that Natural Resources Canada had not designed the Onshore Program of the Emissions Reduction Fund to ensure credible and sustainable emission reductions, and that its expected reductions were an overestimate and not reliable. For 27 of 40 funded projects, companies had indicated that the new infrastructure would accommodate production increases.
EU Common Agricultural Policy: climate and farmland biodiversity spending audited by the European Court of Auditors
The European Court of Auditors reported in June 2021 that the Commission had attributed over €100 billion of Common Agricultural Policy funds to climate action in 2014–2020, that this had little impact on agricultural emissions, and that emissions had not changed significantly since 2010. In June 2020 it reported that the policy's contribution had not halted the decline of biodiversity on farmland.
Mantria and DC Solar: two US investment schemes sold on carbon-negative housing, biochar and solar generators
Mantria raised $54.5m from investors on a carbon-negative housing and biochar offer; its founder was sentenced to 22 years in August 2019. DC Solar sold mobile solar generators, many of which did not exist, in a scheme of about $1bn; its owner was sentenced to 30 years in November 2021.
Washakie Renewable Energy, the Kingston family and Dermen: biodiesel tax credits and RINs (United States, 2010–2018)
A federal criminal case concerned biodiesel tax credits and renewable identification numbers (RINs) claimed for fuel that was rotated through shipments and exports on altered documents. The Internal Revenue Service paid more than $511m; Dermen was found guilty after a jury trial in 2020 and sentenced to 40 years in April 2023, and Jacob Kingston to 18 years.
Spanish solar plants registered as complete before they were built: 1,919 administrative sanctions (2008-2011)
Plants were registered as complete before the 30 September 2008 deadline for Spain's 46.5 c/kWh solar tariff without being built or connected. By June 2011 the energy commission had checked 9,042 plants and 1,919 had been sanctioned administratively.