This Week in Climate & Clean Energy Wins: Week of 5/5/23:

GM plans to build a $200 million EV parts plant in Detroit to support its newest EV model, and IKEA has entered a deal with solar panel maker Meyer Burger to buy Arizona-made solar modules from 2025 to 2029. As a result of the deal with IKEA, Meyer Burger’s production capacity at its factory in Goodyear, Arizona, is going to increase from around 1.6 gigawatts (GW) to 2 GW annually. In addition, Coulomb Solutions, an EV battery distributor, is evaluating sites in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas for a new 4.2 GWh manufacturing facility that would create over 300 jobs. 

According to a new report, the U.S. is closing in on Europe’s lead in efforts to boost hydrogen production. Aurora Energy Research found that North America has seen the largest increase in planned hydrogen projects in the past six months, while Europe’s share has dropped from 63 percent to 56 percent in the same amount of time. A study from Recurrent Motors found that EV batteries are reliable and long-lasting, showing that batteries used for more than 160,000 km maintained at least 90 percent of their original rate. A nonprofit program that installed solar panels and heat pumps in low-income houses in Wisconsin found that the effort reduced energy costs and helped families afford their energy bills. 

Energy Secretary Granholm kicked off the week meeting with the Republic of Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy, where they addressed the importance of bilateral cooperation on clean energy growth and security. The Department of Energy celebrated small business week by reflecting on awarding more than $10 billion in funding to small businesses. DOE offers many funding opportunities to support small businesses to drive the clean energy innovation ecosystem forward. The EPA announced $1 million in funding for pollution-cutting climate initiatives in Salt Lake City, UT. The effort to build the metropolitan clean energy economy will continue later this year as millions more in funding to support implementation has already been approved.

Lastly, energy leaders in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, and North Carolina reflected on the benefits of the clean energy plan in a public webinar.  Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer praised plans announced by clean hydrogen company Nel to make electrolyzers in the Detroit area that will supply up to 4 gigawatts of hydrogen a year – making it one of the largest factories in the world. The California Energy Commission announced that the state’s Clean Energy Research and Development Program has resulted in $160 million in funding to more than 30 California companies and has created more than 1,000 new jobs. Pennsylvania applied to become one of the clean hydrogen energy hubs the federal government is building.  The University of Wisconsin is partnering with Agra Energy to open a new facility that will convert manure to jet fuel. Also in Wisconsin, SolarShare Wisconsin Cooperative is making investing in the new solar farms accessible, allowing members to invest as little as $1,000.

Private Sector

• Coulomb Solutions, an EV battery distributor, announced it is evaluating sites in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas for a 4.2 GWh manufacturing facility. [PV Magazine, 5/1/2023]
  • The facility is expected to create more than 300 new jobs.
• GM plans to build a $200 million EV parts plant in Detroit to support its new Silverado EV. [Electrek, 5/1/2023]
  • After selling over 20,000 EVs for the first time in a quarter in Q1, GM’s CEO Mary Barra says the automaker is ready for a breakout year.
• IKEA’s investment arm plans to buy Arizona-made solar modules from solar panel maker Meyer Burger from 2025 to 2029. [Electrek, 5/3/2023]
  • As a result of the deal with IKEA, Meyer Burger‘s production capacity at its factory in Goodyear, Arizona, is going to increase from around 1.6 gigawatts (GW) to 2 GW annually.

New Reports 

• According to a new report, efforts to boost the production of hydrogen are racing ahead at a rapid pace, particularly in the U.S. – threatening Europe’s lead. [Wall Street Journal, 4/28/2023]
  • Aurora Energy Research found that North America has seen the largest increase in planned hydrogen projects in the past six months. While Europe is still the most popular region for new hydrogen projects, its share has fallen from 63% six months ago to 56%, and the report predicts it will lose its majority share by 2025.
• A March study from Recurrent Motors found EV batteries are reliable and long-lasting.  [Globe and Mail, 5/1/2023]
  • The study showed that EV batteries used for more than 160,000 km still had at least 90% of their original rate left.
• A new report found that clean energy technology can reduce energy costs for low-income people. [Yale Climate Connections, 5/2/2023]
  • A nonprofit program that installed solar panels and heat pumps in low-income houses in Wisconsin helped families afford their energy bills.

Biden Administration 

• Secretary Granholm met with the Republic of Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy Lee Chang-Yang to discuss the country’s energy policies and how to strengthen mutual clean energy goals.  [DOE, 5/1/2023]
  • The dialogue was critical to furthering bilateral cooperation on clean energy, climate, and energy security.
• The DOE celebrated small business week by reflecting on the benefits of the clean energy transition for local economies. [DOE, 5/1/2023]
  • The DOE recently announced passing over $10 billion in funding awarded to small businesses and emphasized their efforts to continue expanding equitable access to such opportunities.
• The EPA announced $1 million in funding for climate projects aiming to cut pollution in Salt Lake City, UT.  [EPA, 5/3/2023]
  • These programs will coordinate with local governments and communities to develop strategies to build clean energy economies across the metropolitan area. 
  • Later this year, there will be another $4.6 billion in follow-up funding to address implementation, which Salt Lake City will be eligible for.

State-Level – 

• Five state energy leaders describe how IRA incentives are helping their states [PV Magazine, 5/1/2023]
  • State energy leaders from California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, and North Carolina highlighted the IRA’s benefits for their state’s clean energy transitions in a webinar.
• Going green: Nel Hydrogen to build in Michigan, work with GM [Associated Press, 5/3/2023]
  • Clean hydrogen company Nel announced plans Wednesday to build a massive new plant in Michigan as it works with General Motors to drive down the cost of hydrogen
  • The company will make electrolyzers in the Detroit area to supply up to 4 gigawatts’ worth of hydrogen each year, making it among the largest such factories in the world.
  • Michigan also offered attractive financial incentives, partnerships with universities and training programs, and strong support from the governor’s office, Volldal said. Getting the plant up and running will take an estimated $350 million.
• California’s Clean Energy Research and Development Program Delivers 10x Return on Investment [California Energy Commission, 5/3/2023]
  • Through coordinated funding and information sharing, the partnership has resulted in more than $160 million in funding to more than 30 California companies, attracted more than $1.7 billion in private investment to the state, and created more than 1,000 new jobs.
• Pennsylvania applies to become a clean hydrogen energy hub [Bay Journal, 5/2/23]
  • Enlisting the help of Ohio and West Virginia, Pennsylvania is now vying to become one of the six to 10 clean hydrogen energy hubs the federal government is building across the country as part of an $8 billion initiative under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
• The University of Wisconsin and Agra Energy to open a new facility for converting manure to jet fuel [Wisconsin Public News Service, 5/4/23]
  • Six years ago, the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and Agra Energy started a project to turn waste streams into fuel for trucks and jets. After a successful pilot facility was built and operated at the university in 2020, a new facility will be running in early 2023.
• SolarShare Wisconsin Cooperative aims to make investing in the state’s new solar farms accessible to all [Yale Climate Connections, 4/26/23]
  • The SolarShare Wisconsin Cooperative allows members to invest in local Wisconsin solar projects for as little as $1,000. The group anticipates a five percent return over five years.