The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced $428 million in funding for 14 projects to revitalise coal communities by accelerating clean energy manufacturing.
These projects, part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, will target 15 coal communities nationwide, focusing on areas affected by decommissioned coal facilities.
DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) chose the projects to strengthen domestic clean energy supply chains and address critical vulnerabilities.
Led by small and medium-sized businesses, these initiatives are expected to generate over 1,900 jobs and attract more than $500 million in private-sector investment.
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Jennifer Granholm, the US Secretary of Energy, said, “The transition to America’s clean energy future is being shaped by communities filled with the valuable talent and experience that comes from powering our country for decades.”
She added, “By leveraging the know-how and skillset of the former coal workforce, we are strengthening our national security while helping advance forward-facing technologies and revitalize communities across the nation.”
The global clean energy and carbon reduction technologies market will surpass $23 trillion by 2030.
The DOE’s investments aim to position the US at the forefront of this opportunity by supporting domestic manufacturers, who currently contribute $1 trillion to the economy and sustain over five million jobs.
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The 14 selected projects focus on key sectors such as grid components, low-carbon materials, and energy-efficiency products.
These include advancements in electrolyte production for electric vehicle batteries, manufacturing cellulose insulation, developing advanced grid components, establishing low-carbon cement facilities, hemp-based manufacturing, and producing superconductors crucial for grid expansion.
The projects are expected to create numerous job opportunities and significantly reduce carbon emissions.