THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE & CLEAN ENERGY WINS: WEEK OF 11/27/23

This week in private sector news, big-name companies made groundbreaking headway on clean energy projects. As the airline industry remains one of the most significant contributors to air pollution, American Airlines is working with startup company Graphyte to remove carbon from the atmosphere. American Airlines purchased credits equivalent to 10,000 tons of permanent carbon removal from the company, with delivery scheduled for early 2025. Google announced a new advanced geothermal project in Nevada – pumping carbon-free electricity to power Google data centers across the state. The move is a major milestone that could make way for future clean energy expansion. 

According to a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are projected to decline by 3% in 2023 due to the transition from coal-fired power plants to renewable sources like solar energy. For the first time, 24 states are expected to hit their climate goals thanks to Biden’s historic clean energy plan. In the U.S., electric vehicle (EV) sales are on track to make up 9% of new car sales – and factors like full inventories and lowering consumer prices indicate the best time for Americans to invest in an EV.

President Biden traveled to Colorado to visit a CS Wind manufacturing facility, highlighting the jobs and economic opportunities Bidenomics is bringing to the state. Earlier this year, CS Wind attributed the $200 million expansion of their Pueblo facility to President Biden’s championed clean energy package. The Department of Energy (DOE) announced nearly $14 million in funding for nonprofits to bring residential solar and battery storage projects to vulnerable communities in Puerto Rico. DOE also announced $275 million for seven projects to strengthen clean energy supply chains. These initiatives are expected to create 1,500 good-paying jobs.

Lastly, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer celebrated a clean energy milestone by signing the Clean Energy Future Plan, which includes a historic emissions-reduction plan. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs held an event that highlighted the state’s clean energy commitments and lauded federal funding that has spurred the state’s clean energy economy, bringing 13,000 good-paying jobs to Arizonans. And, a Pennsylvania electric company received $20 million from DOE to build a manufacturing facility specializing in components for the electric grid and EVs.

Private Sector

• American Airlines is working with startup Graphyte to remove carbon from the atmosphere. [CNBC, 11/28/23]
  • Graphyte reduces carbon by storing bricks of plant material underground. American Airlines purchased credits from the company equivalent to 10,000 tons of permanent carbon removal, with delivery scheduled for early 2025. 
• Google announced a new advanced geothermal project, pumping carbon-free electricity to power Google data centers in Nevada. [AP, 11/28/23]
  • The move is a major milestone that could make way for future clean energy expansion. 

New Reports

• Harmful CO2 emissions are projected to decline in 2023 due to lower electricity generated from coal-fired power plants thanks to the clean energy transition. [Renewable Energy World, 11/28/2023]
  • Solar energy grew by 14.3% last year – more than any other energy source last year.

• Two dozen states are expected to hit their climate goals for the first time as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act. [Heatmap, 11/28/2023]
  • The historic climate package is especially meaningful in states like Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, where the governors in office have ambitious climate goals but lack legislatures willing to fund them.
• EV sales are on track to be 9% of new car purchases in the U.S. in 2023. [Utility Dive, 11/28/2023]
  • Combined U.S. sales of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles reached 17.7% of new light-duty vehicle sales in the third quarter.
• With U.S. EV inventories up fivefold over the past 12 months and consumer prices lowering, there’s never been a better time for Americans to buy. [Bloomberg, 11/27/2023]
  • In the last year, U.S. EV sales have more than doubled.

Biden Administration

• President Biden traveled to CS Wind, a wind tower manufacturer in Colorado, to highlight how Bidenomics is creating jobs and opportunities in the state. [White House, 11/29/2023]
  • Earlier this year, CS Wind broke ground on an over $200 million expansion to its Pueblo facility and directly attributed its investment to the Inflation Reduction Act.
• DOE announced community groups and nonprofits in Puerto Rico selected to receive up to $13.85 million to help vulnerable households obtain access to clean energy installations. [DOE, 11/29/2023]
  • The funding aims to bring residential solar and battery storage projects to residents and provide them with education and consumer protection services.
• DOE announced $275 million for seven projects to strengthen clean energy supply chains and accelerate domestic clean energy manufacturing. [DOE, 11/27/2023]
  • These projects will leverage over $600 million in private sector investments into small- and medium-sized manufacturers and create nearly 1,500 high-quality, good-paying jobs in cutting edge technologies.

State-Level  

• Leveraging Inflation Reduction Act funding, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Clean Energy Future Plan. [Rocky Mountain Institute, 11/28/2023]
  • The state’s new clean energy standards include historic emissions-reduction potential.
• Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs hosted an event at Honeywell Aviation’s Advanced Air Lab in Phoenix, where speakers discussed the state’s clean energy commitments. [Arizona Capitol Times, 11/27/2023]
  • Energy Policy Advisor for the Governor’s Office of Resiliency praised federal dollars for spurring Arizona’s clean energy economy and bringing a projected 13,000 good-paying jobs. 
• Pittsburgh-based CorePower Magnetics has been tapped to receive a $20 million grant from DOE to build an advanced manufacturing facility specializing in components for the electrical grid and EVs. [Pittsburgh Inno, 11/27/2023]
  • The project is expected to bring 25 to 50 jobs to southwestern Pennsylvania.