With a substantial $425 million investment, courtesy of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the United States is taking significant strides towards reducing industrial emissions and propelling clean energy manufacturing—an effort that will not only bolster the nation’s energy supply chains but generate rewarding manufacturing employment opportunities. The allocation, managed by the Department of Energy‘s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC), serves as a boon to smaller and medium-sized manufacturers, encouraging production and recycling of clean energy products and the pursuit of decarbonization at their facilities. It’s an expansion on the heels of an earlier, successful deployment of $275 million across various projects in seven different states just a year prior.
Secretary Granholm’s Vision of An Industrial Renaissance
“A manufacturing boom is unfolding across the U.S., reenergizing communities and safeguarding jobs,” remarked U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. This development is a pivotal part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which promises to extend economic opportunities to erstwhile coal communities, helping them play a central role in our nation’s clean energy transformation.
Energizing Communities with Sustainable Opportunities
The Advanced Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program lies at the heart of monumental investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, all tailored to President Biden’s vision of fortifying U.S. industry and supply chains, particularly in the realm of clean energy manufacturing. This initiative pledges to forge secure, resilient, domestic energy supply pathways, conjure high-quality jobs, and recharge energy communities full of potential.
Investing in the Future: The DOE’s Dual-Themed Approach
This second wave of funding leans into two core investment themes: the already supported Clean Energy Manufacturing and Recycling, and the newly introduced Industrial Decarbonization. Applicants focusing on the former will look to set up or upgrade current manufacturing or recycling facilities dedicated to advanced energy production or recycling. The latter, a fresh avenue for this round, seeks proposals for manufacturing sites that drastically slash greenhouse gas emissions and foster the creation of low carbon materials. A noteworthy criterion for project eligibility is that they must be situated in areas affected by coal mine or coal-fired power plant closures after specific dates. The DOE has made a mapping tool available to aid potential applicants in identifying qualifying regions.
Upholding Community and Labor Standards
All applicants are mandated to furnish an impactful plan that outlines the positive effects their projects will have on local workers and communities. This should align with the DOE’s commitment to inclusion, community engagement, employment quality, and the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which targets a substantial portion of federal investment benefits reaching disadvantaged groups.
For more details, one can peruse the full funding opportunity at the DOE’s website. An informational webinar scheduled for March 14, 2024, will shed further light on these opportunities—the registration for which is currently open. With deadlines for concept papers and full applications set for April and June of 2024 respectively, the DOE encourages swift submissions from interested parties.
Support for U.S. Energy Supply Chains and Manufacturing
MESC continues to drive home its mission of catalyzing investments in America’s energy future and bolstering the resurgence and scaling of U.S. manufacturing. This initiative underscores the efforts to strengthen the energy supply chain in the country, setting a foundation for a sustainable and prosperous American industrial landscape.
