This Week in Climate & Clean Energy Wins: Week of 10/30/23

This week, Climate Power released a new report celebrating America’s thriving clean energy economy as Biden Administration policies have delivered more than 210,000 jobs and counting. The report found that 33,000 of those jobs were located in rural communities throughout the country, thanks to $310 billion in new clean energy investments. New documents show that the U.S., E.U., and COP28 climate summit hosts are rallying governments to join a deal that would require installing 11,000 gigawatts (GW) – tripling the world’s renewable energy capacity before 2030.

In private sector news, First Solar is building a $1.1. billion solar panel factory in Courtland, Alabama, bringing green jobs to the reddest district in America. Toyota is investing an additional $8 billion into the hybrid and EV battery factory the company is constructing in North Carolina, more than doubling their prior investments and expected number of jobs.  Rivian’s new wind turbine is up and running at their Illinois plant, capable of generating nearly 10 million KW hours of electricity a year. Rivian estimates that in its 25-year lifetime, the turbine will avoid around 177,000 tons of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of taking 34,000 ICE vehicles off the road. And Sunpower has announced new deals to create solar standard communities across the country, representing nearly 1,000 solar homes across eight states. 

The Department of Energy announced up to $1.3 billion in funding for three transmission lines that will deliver an additional 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of grid capacity. The historic project is expected to power about 3 million homes and create 13,000 indirect and direct jobs. The Biden Administration approved plans for a Virginia offshore wind farm – the largest project of its kind, expected to produce enough energy to power more than 900,000 homes. The EPA launched a prize competition for electric vehicle (EV) drivers to show off their personal experience with sustainable transportation. The challenge will also showcase the benefits of sustainable transportation.

Lastly, Tucson Electric Power is starting construction on a $294-million battery system for solar energy that will store up to 800 MW hours. In Indiana, Canadian Solar announced plans to open an $800 million solar cell production plant, bringing 1,200 new jobs to the state. In Utah and Nevada, The Department of Energy will fund a 214-mile electrical transmission line. In Michigan, lawmakers are expected to vote on a package of environmental bills, including legislation requiring the state to reach 100 percent clean energy by 2040. In Colorado, state officials are confident they can slash power-sector emissions by 98.5 percent by 2040 compared to 2005 levels at no increased cost to consumers, according to a new memo from the Colorado Energy Office. 

New Reports

• According to a new report from Climate Power, President Biden’s clean energy plan has led to more than 210,000 jobs and counting – totaling $310 billion in new investments. [Climate Power, 11/1/2023]
  • More than 33,000 of those jobs are in rural communities across 31 states.
• New documents show that the U.S., E.U., and United Arab Emirates’ COP28 climate summit hosts are rallying governments to join a global deal that would triple renewable energy before 2030. [Reuters, 11/1/2023]
  • Tripling the world’s energy capacity would mean installing 11,000 GW – a feat that experts claim is critical to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Private Sector

• In the reddest district in America, First Solar is building a $1.1 billion solar-panel factory to widespread support. [Bloomberg, 11/1/2023] 
  • The First Solar plant will be built in Courtland, Alabama – the state overall  “embracing its new position on the southern fringe of the nation’s emerging Battery Belt.” 
• Rivian’s wind turbine, at its plant in Illinois, is officially online and charging new EVs with 100% clean energy. [Electrek, 10/30/2023] 
  • The 2.8 MW turbine is capable of generating nearly 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year – enough to power 890 average US homes. 
  • Rivian also estimates that the turbine will avoid around 177,000 tons of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of taking roughly 34,000 ICE vehicles off the road for a year – over its 25-year lifetime.
• Toyota will invest an additional $8 billion in the hybrid and electric vehicle battery factory it’s constructing in North Carolina. [AP, 10/31/2023] 
  • This additional investment more than doubles the company’s prior investments and the expected number of new jobs. 

• SunPower has announced new deals with home builders to create solar-standard communities across the country. [Solar Power World, 10/31/2023] 
  • These four deals represent nearly 1,000 solar homes across eight states. 

Biden Administration

• DOE announced up to $1.3 billion in funding for three transmission lines crossing six states – delivering an additional 3.5 GW of grid capacity across the country. [DOE, 10/30/2023]
  • The initiative is expected to power approximately 3 million homes and create more than 13,000 direct and indirect jobs.
• The Biden Administration approved the nation’s largest offshore wind farm to date, projected to produce enough electricity to power more than 900,000 homes. [New York Times, 10/31/2023]
  • The project will provide about 900 jobs annually during the construction phase and support an estimated 1,100 annual jobs once it begins operating.
• The EPA launched a prize competition that encourages people to share their personal experiences with electric transportation. [EPA, 10/27/2023]
  • The challenge aims to showcase the real-world experiences of EV drivers and help inform the public about more sustainable transportation options.

State-Level  

• In the coming months, Tucson Electric Power will start construction on an estimated $294-million battery system for solar energy that will store 800 MW hours. [ENR Southwest, 10/30/2023]
  • This system will have the capability to power approximately 42,000 homes for four hours, according to TEP.
• Canadian Solar announced plans to open an $800 million solar cell production plant in southeast Indiana, bringing 1,200 new jobs to the area. [Indy Star, 10/30/2023]
  • Production is expected to start by the end of 2025, and Canadian Solar plans to begin hiring mid-next year. 
• The Department of Energy will fund a 214-mile electrical transmission line connecting Utah and Nevada that will allow energy to flow both ways. [The Salt Lake Tribune, 10/31/2023]
  • The project was one of three major transmission lines announced by the Department of Energy on Monday. The others will connect Arizona to New Mexico and New Hampshire to Vermont.
• This week, Michigan lawmakers are expected to vote on a sweeping package of environmental bills, including legislation requiring the state to reach 100 percent clean energy by 2040. [The Washington Post, 11/1/2023]
• According to a memo from the Colorado Energy Office, state officials are confident they can slash power-sector emissions by 98.5 percent by 2040 compared to 2005 levels at no increased cost to consumers. [The Washington Post, 11/1/2023]