The Press Stories
The Biden administration has made a significant move to combat climate change by announcing $6 billion in funding for projects aimed at reducing emissions from the industrial sector. This sector is responsible for 25% of all U.S. emissions and has proven difficult to decarbonize due to the large-scale nature of its operations.
The funding, coming from both the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support 33 demonstration projects in over 20 states. These projects include initiatives such as new aluminum smelters, zero-carbon aluminum casting plants, decarbonization of food production facilities, and carbon capture technology.
The goal of these projects is to eliminate 14 million metric tons of pollution annually, which is equivalent to taking 3 million cars off the road. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm highlighted that the U.S. has the potential to lead in clean manufacturing and technologies that can be adopted globally.
Decarbonizing heavy industries like aluminum production is more challenging than sectors such as electricity and transportation. However, by investing in clean energy for new aluminum production, the industry can be stabilized and jobs created while benefiting the climate.
White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi emphasized the importance of this funding in driving the transition to a more sustainable economy. Mike Ireland, president and CEO of the Portland Cement Association, and Todd Tucker, director of industrial policy and trade at the Roosevelt Institute, have also praised the initiative.
Annie Sartor, aluminum director at Industrious Labs, highlighted the potential for the U.S. to become a leader in clean energy and emphasized the importance of such actions in combating climate change.
