THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE & CLEAN ENERGY WINS: WEEK OF 4/7

This week, companies are leveraging the Inflation Reduction Act to continue advancing electric vehicles and developing other renewable energy projects. Specifically, Ford announced its full lineup of EVs is eligible for tax credits, while Stellantis and BMW are in talks with Panasonic to build a new EV battery plant. Developers are also investing in projects that turn crops and agricultural waste into low-carbon energy. 

A new report from E2 shows that 28 new large-scale clean energy projects were announced last month, amounting to $13 billion in investments and bringing at least 9,500 jobs across 18 states in the US.

In a visit to Qcells solar panel factory outside Atlanta, Vice President Harris announced the largest community solar effort in U.S. history, enough to power 140,000 homes and businesses in three states. The Administration announced $450 million in funding for as many as five new clean energy projects at coal mines. The White House also shared a guidebook on Tuesday that lays out Tribal eligibility for grants and programs included in the clean energy plan, which provides $720 million in funding for Tribal lands and native communities. The Department of the Interior announced it would begin construction for commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects in federal waters, expecting to generate enough energy to power over 70,000 homes and businesses at full capacity. Biden also announced $1 billion in funding to help farmers and rural businesses invest in renewable energy.

At the state level, Maryland is seeing clean energy investments from Pivot and Chaberton, resulting in four new solar projects expected to transact 21 MW across the portfolios and providing millions in consumer energy savings. Maine received $3 million in federal funding that will be used to update the state’s climate action plan, Maine Won’t Wait. Nebraska also received a $3 million investment from the administration to build the clean energy economy.

Private Sector

• Ford has confirmed that all three EV and plug-in hybrid models will be eligible for IRA tax credits starting April 18. [Reuters, 4/5/2023]
  • Their Mustang Mach-E electric SUV will be eligible for a $3,750 credit, and the F-150 Lightning pickup truck will be eligible for a $7,500 credit. 

• Stellantis and BMW are talking to Panasonic about teaming up to build a new EV battery plant in North America. [Wall Street Journal, 4/4/2023]
  • Stellantis plans to announce a third North American EV battery factory sometime in the second quarter of this year.
• Roeslein Alternative Energy is building six biodigesters at large cattle and swine operations in Iowa and Missouri to produce methane for transportation fuel and electricity. [New York Times, 4/04/2023]
  • At the same time, Greenfield Nitrogen is developing a $400 million plant that will produce 96,000 tons of zero-carbon fertilizer in Iowa.

New Reports

• New data from Environmental Entrepreneurs shows companies announced 28 new large-scale clean energy projects in March, amounting to $13 billion in investments across 18 states. [E2, 4/5/2023]
  • The new projects, nearly half of which are in the Southeast US, will bring at least 9,500 new jobs, according to E2.

Biden Administration

• The Biden Administration announced the largest community solar effort in U.S. history, enough to power 140,000 homes and businesses in three states. [Associated Press, 4/6/2023]
  • Vice President Harris announced the deal during a visit to the Qcells solar panel factory outside Atlanta. The new plan will require the manufacturing of 2.5 million solar panels at Qcells’ plant in Dalton, Georgia. 
• The Biden Administration announced $450 million in funding for clean energy projects at coal mines. [Associated Press, 4/04/2023]
  • As many as five energy projects will be funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, with at least two being for solar farms.
• The White House released the Guidebook to the Inflation Reduction Act’s Clean Energy and Climate Investments in Indian Country on Tuesday, outlining Tribal eligibility for other aspects of the clean energy plan, including billions in grant and loan programs and clean energy tax incentives.  [White House, 4/04/2023]
  • The clean energy plan provides upwards of $720 million in funding for programs dedicated to Tribal lands and native communities.
• DOI announced the start of turbine construction for commercial-scale, offshore wind energy projects in federal waters. [DOI, 4/03/2023]
  • The first project of its kind in federal waters, it is expected to generate 130 megawatts of wind energy, enough to power over 70,000 homes and businesses. 
• The Biden Administration announced $1 billion in funding to help farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses invest in renewable energy systems and energy-efficiency improvements. [USDA, 3/31/2023]
  • The funding will include the creation of an underutilized technology fund in the REAP Program, with $144.5 million in funding.

State-Level

• Four new solar projects are coming to Maryland due to expansion plans from Pivot Energy and Chaberton Energy. [The Daily Record, 4/04/2023]
  • With construction taking place throughout 2023 and 2024, Pivot and Chaberton expect to transact 21 MW of solar energy across project portfolios, providing millions of dollars in consumer energy savings and direct community benefits over the lifetime of the projects.
• Maine received $3 million from the administration to fund innovative climate projects. [EPA, 4/03/2023]
  • Maine will use the funds through the Maine Climate Council, composed of scientists, industry leaders, bipartisan local and state officials, and citizens, to update Maine Won’t Wait – the state’s climate action plan.
• Nebraska received $3 million in federal funds to develop plans to cut climate pollution and build a clean energy economy. [Nebraska Examiner, 3/31/2023]
  • Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, funds will be used to develop a climate action plan in collaboration with municipalities and organizations and to engage with low-income and disadvantaged communities.