THIS WEEK IN CLIMATE & CLEAN ENERGY WINS: WEEK OF 4/14/23:

This week, Hyundai announced its plans to invest $18 billion by 2030 to expand global EV production. Ascend Elements opened the largest EV battery recycling facility in the U.S., capable of processing battery packings from 70,000 EVs annually. 

Manufacturing construction spending reached $108 billion in 2022 according to the Census Bureau, the highest annual total on record. This signals an unprecedented domestic manufacturing rebound, thanks in part due to clean energy incentives. The U.S. is also experiencing a similar resurgence in U.S. solar manufacturing, with the federal government purchasing 2.5 million solar panels from Q Cells just last week. QCells is one of many growing clean technology factories supported by federal policies to bolster the domestic supply chain. In addition, EVs are getting more affordable across the market with prices on the vehicles have gone down nearly 4% from this time last year and used EV sales rose 32% in the first quarter of 2023, as prices on the vehicles went down nearly 4% from this time last year. 

The EPA announced $3 million in funding for innovative climate projects in Puerto Rico that will cut pollution and build out the clean energy economy. The Biden Administration approved construction plans for the TransWest Express, a 700-mile transmission line that will run across the western U.S. and is expected to create 1,000 new jobs. The Administration also announced $72 million in funding to expand clean career pathway opportunities, selecting five universities to receive $18.7 million to be certified as Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) for DOE.