This Week in Climate & Clean Energy Wins: Week of 7/14/23

This week, motor vehicle companies hit massive breakthroughs. Volkswagen and Stellantis are set to close on a $1 billion deal to move deeper into the supply chain for metals to power EVs, and Toyota could upend the EV industry entirely with their latest breakthrough on solid-state lithium ion batteries – which have longer range and better safety standards standards than current batteries. Mercedes-Benz announced they will adopt Tesla’s EV charging standard across the continent for EVs, making the superchargers universal by 2025. Kia is investing $200 million in a new Georgia plant to begin production on a first electric-powered SUV, and Fisker Inc. is rolling out its first EV model to consumers amidst fierce startup competition. In other news, electric grid operator PJM began a new interconnection process that will address a massive backlog of renewable energy projects – setting up over 260,000 MW of renewable projects over the next three years, and Duke Energy unveiled Kentucky’s largest ever utility-scale rooftop solar site at the Amazon Air Hub. 

New analysis from the Rhodium Group found that the climate incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act could reduce carbon emissions by 99 million – 193 million metric tons per year between 2030 and 2050. According to the Energy Information Administration, solar generated 7% of US electricity in April – a 16.66.6% increase from last year. Studies in California and New Jersey found that replacing central AC systems with heat pumps is essential to meeting home heating electrification targets – prompting federal and state regulators to promote such policies. According to the 2023 U.S. Energy and Employment (USEER) Report, there were 114,000 new jobs created in the clean energy industry in 2022. A new report from IEA found that solar, EVs, and energy efficient lighting are all on track to achieve net zero by 2050.

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced $23.4 million in funding for 16 carbon management technology projects across 14 states. The DOE also announced a $72 million investment to support 296 projects across 44 states that aim to help small businesses expand clean energy capabilities. In partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced $3.5 million to advance renewable energy research and technologies on public lands. The Biden Administration announced a $60 million investment in accelerator programs that aim to understand how ocean observation technologies can support climate resiliency efforts.

Finally, California this week secured $67 million from the federal government to bolster clean energy projects for the state’s grid. In Minnesota, the state is investing $3 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure the state’s climate strategies benefit low-income communities. And in Michigan, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI-11) joined local elected officials and community leaders to discuss how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act benefit Michiganders and help tackle climate change. 

Private Sector

• Toyota is poised to upend the EV industry with their latest breakthrough on solid-state lithium ion batteries [Bloomberg – Opinion, 7/12/2023]
  • The batteries have longer range and better safety standards than current batteries, arguably removing the remaining roadblocks to EV adoption. 

• Mercedes-Benz announced they will adopt Tesla’s EV charging standard across North America. [CNN Business, 7/8/2023] 
  • EV drivers will be able to use Tesla superchargers starting next year, with full adoption by 2025. 
• Volkswagen and Stellantis are set to close on a $1 billion deal, moving deeper into the supply chain for metals to power their electric cars. [Wall Street Journal, 7/12/2023]  
  • Each company is committing $100 million to create a publicly traded mining company producing nickel and copper from two Brazilian mines that run on hydropower.
• Kia is investing $200 million in a new Georgia plant to begin production on an electric-powered SUV. [Yahoo, 7/12/2023] 
  • The project will create 200 jobs. 
• California-based Fisker Inc. is rolling out its first EV model to consumers, amidst fierce competition from a wave of EV startups. [Wall Street Journal, 7/9/2023] 
• Duke Energy unveiled Kentucky’s largest utility-scale rooftop solar site at the Amazon Air Hub. [Solar Builder Magazine, 7/10/2023] 
  • The development is energizing around 400 homes and businesses in the area. 
• Electric grid operator PJM began a new interconnection process designed to address a massive backlog of planned renewable energy projects. [Charleston Gazette-Mail, 7,10/2023] 
  • The new process will set up over 260,000 MW of renewable projects over the next three years. Currently, PJM oversees electric reliability for 65 million people.  

New Reports 

• The Inflation Reduction Act’s incentives could reduce carbon emissions by 99 million to 193 million metric tons per year between 2030 and 2050. [Green Biz, 7/12/2023]
  • New analysis from the Rhodium Group also found that by 2080 to 2100, the IRA’s incentives will drive a global carbon dioxide abatement of 401 million to 847 million metric tons. 
• Solar generated 7% of U.S. electricity in April. [PV Magazine, 7/10/2023]
  • The figure is a 16.6% increase year over year, according to the Energy Information Administration. 
• Federal energy-efficiency regulators and state and city building code overseers are increasingly promoting policies that encourage replacement of central AC systems with heat pumps. [Canary Media, 7/11/2023]
  • Studies in California and New Jersey found that transitioning to heat pumps is necessary to meet the states’ respective home heating electrification goals.
• According to the 2023 USEER Report, the U.S. created 114,000 jobs in the clean energy industry in 2022. [Forbes, 7/10/2023]
  • These jobs are available to workers without four year degrees, making them widely accessible – with wages higher than the national average.
• A recent report from IEA found that solar, EVs, and energy efficient lighting are all on track to achieve net zero by 2050. [IEA, 7/12/2023]
  • Overall energy efficiency of the economy – the single largest measure to combat high demand in net zero planning – grew by more than twice the level last year.

Biden Administration

• The EPA announced a $20 billion investment to finance a national “green bank” that will fund clean energy projects across the country.
  • In the form of two grant competitions, the collective $20 billion from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will focus on funding projects in marginalized communities that have missed out on private investments.
• DOE announced that 16 projects across 14 states will receive $23.4 million to provide technical assistance and grow stakeholder engagement around carbon management technologies. [DOE, 7/10/2023]
  • The funding aims to connect carbon management developers with local communities to advance the commercial deployment of carbon capture, transport, and storage technologies.
• DOE announced $72 million in funding for small businesses to pursue clean energy and climate research, development, and demonstration projects. [DOE, 7/10/2023]
  • The funding will create 296 projects across 44 states and addresses renewable energy, nuclear energy, cybersecurity, and more.
• BLM announced $3.5 million to advance renewable energy research and new technologies on public lands. [BLM, 7/10/2023]
  • The initiative is in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which will  provide research and technical expertise to support environmentally-sound renewable energy development.
• The Biden Administration announced a $60 million investment in coastal resilience and American small businesses. [Commerce, 7/10/2023]
  • This funding will create accelerator programs that aim to understand how ocean observation technologies and information services can support solutions to climate resilience challenges.

State-Level  

• California this week secured $67 million from the federal government to bolster clean energy projects for the state’s grid. [NBC Bay Area, 7/10/2023]
  • The $67 million is part of a five year, $2.3 billion grant program to fund programs that provide zero-carbon energy. The money will also help protect the grid from extreme weather.
• This week the Minnesota Reformer reported that Minnesota is investing $3 million from the Inflation Reduction Act in making sure the state’s climate strategies benefit low-income communities. [Minnesota Reformer, 7/10/2023]
  • The $3 million planning grant will help bolster the state’s climate plans in a few key areas, including a study of the potential impact of emission reductions in disadvantaged communities, an analysis of workforce needs and the costs and benefits of climate solutions, and outreach and planning with tribal nations. 
• On Monday, On Monday, Rep. Haley Stevens joined local elected officials and community leaders for a roundtable at The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) in Michigan to discuss the state’s economic opportunities in the transition to clean energy. [Michigan Advance, 7/11/2023]
  • During the event, the speakers discussed at length how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act will benefit Michiganders and help tackle the climate crisis.