The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has earmarked $425 million in funding to aid energy transition in current and former coal communities by supporting small and medium clean energy companies.
The funding, according to a media release by the DOE, is aimed at helping reduce industrial emissions and advance clean energy manufacturing essential to the U.S. energy supply chain.
“The program will strengthen America’s energy security, create good paying jobs, cut climate pollution, and help ensure that the communities that powered our nation for generations reap the economic benefits of the clean economy”, the DOE said.
The Advanced Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program will provide support to small- and medium-sized manufacturers in coal communities that focus on producing and recycling clean energy products. The investment will be directed toward the decarbonization of these facilities.
The program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and is managed by the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC).
The $425 million earmarked this year adds to the first round of such investments in 2023, amounting to $275 million across seven selected projects in seven states.
“All across America we’re seeing a manufacturing boom that is revitalizing communities while preserving and expanding the local workforce”, said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “DOE is utilizing the historic investments in President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expand economic opportunities to ensure former coal communities can take full advantage of the clean energy transition and continue their leading role in powering our nation”.
In this second round, the DOE said it will prioritize two investment themes or “areas of interest”. The first one is clean energy manufacturing and recycling and the second investment theme is industrial decarbonization.
“Applications for Clean Energy Manufacturing and Recycling should aim to establish, re-equip, or expand an existing manufacturing or recycling facility for the production or recycling of advanced energy”, the DOE said.
“Industrial Decarbonization, which is a new area of interest for the second round of the program, is focused on building or upgrading manufacturing facilities to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create low-carbon materials”, the DOE said. “Projects under this funding program, across either area of interest, must occur in communities where coal mines have closed since December 31, 1999, or coal-fired power plants have closed since December 31, 2009”.
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