• Skip to main content

Inflation Reduction Act Tracker

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Environmental Defense Fund
  • IRA Database
  • IRA Tracker
  • Litigation
  • About
  • Helpful Resources
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
Agency:
Department of Energy

IRA Section 50172 – National Laboratory Infrastructure and Nuclear and Renewable Energy Development

Section 50172 of the IRA appropriates $2 billion in funding in total to various offices of the National Laboratories of the DOE, available through September 30, 2027, to support the following:

Office of Science

1) science laboratory infrastructure projects;
2) high energy physics construction and major items of equipment projects;
3) fusion energy science construction and major items of equipment projects;
4) nuclear physics construction and major items of equipment projects;
5) advanced scientific computing research facilities;
6) basic energy sciences projects; and
7) activities for isotope research and development facilities

The Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Office of Nuclear Energy, and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy also received funding for activities for infrastructure and general plant projects.

Eligible Entities:

Educational Institution

Current Status:

No change under Trump administration

Trump Administration Actions:

  • DOE Secretary Orders Review of 179 Financial Assistance Awards [05/15/2025]
  • Litigation Compliance Report Indicates DOE Released Previously Frozen Awards [04/23/2025]
  • DOE Creating List of Clean Energy Grants to Cancel [03/21/2025]
  • OMB Orders Temporary Pause on Financial Assistance Programs, Later Rescinded [01/27/2025]
  • DOE Memo Suspends Funding for Projects Involving Community Benefit Plans [01/27/2025]
  • OMB Clarifies Scope of the Order to Halt IRA Spending [01/21/2025]
  • Trump Issues Executive Order to Halt All IRA Funding Disbursements [01/20/2025]

Implementation Status at End of Biden Administration:

Complete

Section 50172 of the IRA appropriates $2 billion in funding to various offices of the National Laboratories, available through September 30, 2027. These are administrative funds and have been fully allocated. Since no other allocations are required under the statute, implementation is complete.

DOE allocated $150 million to each of National Energy Technology Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Office of Nuclear Energy. DOE also announced the selection of six projects totaling $11.6 million through the R-STEP program that will improve planning, siting, and permitting processes for large-scale renewable energy facilities.

Biden Administration Actions:

  • DOE Announces Commitment of 94% of IRA Grant Funds to States and Projects [01/17/2025]
  • DOE Announces $11.6 Million in Funding for Siting Renewable Energy Projects [09/10/2024]
  • DOE Announces $150 Million of Funding for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory [05/22/2023]
  • NETL Receives $150 Million to Support Research and Infrastructure Upgrades [04/05/2023]
Copyright 2026 · Sabin Center for Climate Change Law · Privacy Notice
The materials on this website are provided for educational purposes only. They are intended to provide a general summary of the law and do not constitute legal or business advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by use of this site. Consult with an attorney for any needed legal advice. There is no warranty of accuracy, adequacy, use, or comprehensiveness of the information on this site or from its contributors and sponsors. Those who use information from this website do so at their own risk.