Fossil fuel companies take at least $3bn in U.S. COVID-19 aid, House funding bill would boost clean energy, and other news from around the web

The Trump administration on Monday disclosed the names of many small businesses which received loans under a program intended to blunt the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic.

The disclosure comes amid demands from Democrats for more transparency around the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, funds established as part of the $2 trillion CARES Act, which President Donald Trump signed this spring.

The shale industry is getting at least $2.4 billion in loans from the U.S. government’s Paycheck Protection Program aimed at helping businesses that are struggling with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The program will benefit more than 16,000 oil and natural gas explorers and service providers, according to data released Monday and compiled by Bloomberg. Mach Resources LLC, the gas producer run by Chesapeake Energy Corp. co-founder Tom Ward, is among companies listed as receiving loans of $2 million to $5 million.

More than 5,600 companies in the fossil fuel industry have taken a minimum of $3bn in coronavirus aid from the US federal government, according to an analysis by Documented and the Guardian of newly released data.

The businesses include oil and gas drillers and coal mine operators, as well as refiners, pipeline companies and firms that provide services to the industry.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) on Monday released the data under pressure for further transparency, including from journalism outlets that had sued demanding the public records.

Coal companies received at least $170 million in small business loans under the U.S. government’s coronavirus relief program, according to data released Monday.

Ramaco Resources Inc. of Kentucky, JRL Coal Inc. of Georgia and Knight Hawk Coal LLC of Illinois were among the 449 coal companies that received funds through the $669 billion Paycheck Protection Program, overseen by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

About 20 coal companies received at least $5 million. Hundreds of others got $1 million or less.

House Democrats unveiled a fiscal 2021 spending bill Monday that would boost an array of climate-friendly energy spending, including increased funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and advanced energy research.

The fiscal 2021 energy and water spending measure would provide $49.6 billion in total energy and water spending, a 3% percent increase of $1.26 billion over current year levels. The spending bill is slated to make its first stop Tuesday before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.