This Week in Climate & Clean Energy Wins: Week of 4/21/23:

Panasonic is considering building an EV battery plant in Oklahoma, and 6K Energy, which produces advanced plasma cathode systems, is poised to bring the world’s first plasma plant to Jackson, Tennessee. Despite Republican state leaders’ reluctance to encourage EV purchases or acknowledge that efforts to combat the climate crisis are driving their state’s economy, Georgia is emerging as the nation’s center for EV manufacturing. And in another show of international leadership, the Inflation Reduction Act’s generous clean energy tax credits are encouraging European companies to invest in the U.S. 

According to Climate Power’s latest Clean Energy Boom Report, clean energy projects in 41 states have announced and advanced 142,016 new jobs since August 16th, 2022. 

The Biden Administration announced $250 million in funding for electric heat pump manufacturing after invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) last year to increase domestic production of clean energy. The Administration also continues to award innovative climate project funding across the country, announcing $3 million for the development of new clean energy strategies in Ohio. Secretary Granholm served as the Head of Delegation for the Energy Track of the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy, and the Environment, where the delegation made an unprecedented commitment to phase out fossil fuels in an accelerated approach toward achieving  2050 net-zero goals. Biden signed an executive order aimed at addressing higher pollution burdens faced by frontline communities. 

Lastly, California welcomed Vice President Harris, who toured the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator designed to support clean-energy startups and innovative climate technology. The Vice President praised efforts to provide skills training to support the clean energy transition. In a big week for Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order to create a new clean energy fund, and the GSA Administrator announced $30 million in funding to boost sustainable construction projects in the state. These funds are already being invested in plans like those developed by Johnson Controls, expected to reduce emissions by about 1,600 metric tons annually.

Private Sector

• Panasonic is considering building an EV battery plant in Oklahoma. [The Gazette, 4/16/2023] 
  • The company has entered into an agreement with the state to determine eligibility for state-based incentives. 

• 6K Energy will bring the world’s first plasma plant to Jackson, Tennessee. [Jackson Sun, 4/18/2023]
  • The plant will build plasma cathodes and provide new battery material for U.S. battery supply chains, creating 230 jobs. 

• U.S. manufacturer Rheem has released a cold climate heat pump that provides uninterrupted heating. [PV Magazine, 4/18/2023]
  • The new air-source heat pump has passed the US Department of Energy’s Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge. The pump reportedly delivered a 5% higher COP and a 9% higher HSPF2 than the challenge specification.

New Reports  

• According to Climate Power’s latest Clean Energy Boom Report, clean energy projects in 41 states have announced and advanced 142,016 new jobs since August 16th, 2022. [Climate Power, 4/20/2023] 
  • The 190+ new clean energy projects nationwide total $242.81 billion in investments, creating economic growth in communities across the country. 
• Georgia is emerging as the center of U.S. EV manufacturing, despite reluctance from Republican state leaders. [Washington Post, 4/17/2023]
  • Republican state leaders are unwilling to encourage EV purchases or acknowledge that climate change is the driver of the state’s new economic boom, even as major new clean energy projects announced since the Inflation Reduction Act passed in their districts. 

• New tax credits and subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act leave the wind energy industry optimistic that offshore wind project losses will end. [CNBC, 4/17/2023]
  • GE Renewable Energy, Siemens Energy, and Vestas Wind Systems and their suppliers are banking on growth over the next decade. 

• The Inflation Reduction Act’s generous clean energy tax credits are encouraging European companies to invest in the U.S. [AP, 4/17/2023]
  • Executives say Europe is lagging in providing incentives, and the available incentives are underwhelming and too bureaucratic to provide benefits for businesses.

Biden Administration 

• The Biden administration signed into law an executive order aimed at addressing environmental justice. [Axios, 4/21/2023]
  • The order directs the federal government take into consideration EJ impacts, protects frontline communities toxic pollution, and more. 

• The Biden Administration announced $250 million in funding for electric heat pump manufacturing projects. [DOE, 4/18/2023]
  • The first funding announcement stemming from the DPA, which seeks to increase domestic production of clean energy technologies, the projects will increase good-paying manufacturing jobs and help American families save on their energy bills.

• The Administration continues to deliver on its promise to fund innovative projects that tackle climate change, announcing $3 million in funding for new plans in Ohio. [EPA, 4/18/2023]
  • Ohio received a $3 million planning grant to develop innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies.
  • This funding will be followed by a $4.6 billion implementation grant later this year to support policies, programs, and projects created by the CPRG planning grants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term.

• Secretary Granholm visited Japan for the G7 Energy, Climate, Energy, and Environment Ministerial Meeting. [DOE, 4/17/2023]
  • The delegation delivered a strong message that G7 nations are mobilizing to accelerate the decarbonization and diversification of our energy sources, making the unprecedented commitment to accelerate the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels in all energy systems to achieve our 2050 net-zero goals. 

• The GSA Administrator announced $30 million to boost sustainable construction projects, building efficiency, and jobs in Ohio. [GSA, 4/19/2023]
  • Through an Energy Savings Performance Contract awarded to Johnson Controls, these investments are estimated to save about $300,000 per year in energy costs and reduce emissions by about 1,600 metric tons per year.

State-Level 

• In California, Vice President Harris toured the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator to tout the booming clean energy economy. [ABC7, 4/18/2023]
  • During Monday’s visit, the Vice President praised efforts to ensure that workers are trained in the type of skills needed to support a clean energy transition.
  • The Cleantech Incubator is a nonprofit organization designed to support clean-energy business startups and back the development of technologies supporting the industry.

• In Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order to create a new clean energy fund. [Spectrum News 1, 4/19/2023]
  • The Green Innovation Fund and its partners will use public and private financing to invest in projects that provide environmental and clean energy solutions to businesses, reduce pollution, lower energy costs for families and expand access to clean, affordable energy options.
  • The Governor said the fund is a critical step in advancing Wisconsin’s goal to ensure all electricity consumed within the state is 100% carbon-free by 2050.