- DOE Webinar: Programs for Smart Manufacturing and Battery Collection & Recycling - July 11, 2024, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET: DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) will review two competitive grant programs that recently completed initial funding rounds: (1) Smart Manufacturing Leadership Program supports states to establish or expand programs to assist small and medium-sized manufacturers access smart manufacturing technologies; (2) State and Local Programs for Consumer Electronics Battery Collection, Recycling, and Reprocessing program assists states and local governments to establish or enhance battery collection, recycling, and reprocessing. Program managers will describe past funding rounds and highlight expected program impacts, then grant awardees and other guests will discuss smart manufacturing and battery recycling. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and will receive links to additional resources and information on future MESC funding opportunities. Please register here.
- The Renewable Thermal Collaborative released its Chemical Sector Assessment providing an analysis of decarbonization opportunities within the U.S. chemical industry, which accounts for approximately 20% of the country’s overall industrial emissions. This report outlines effective strategies to reduce thermal emissions which could deliver over 60% decarbonization of key production processes by 2050. June 25, 2024 webinar recording available here.
- Clean Air Task Force, Federal Funding Programs for Clean Industrial Innovation: A Guide for States is a resource for states officials, businesses, communities, advocates, and others to understand how IIJA and IRA funding can be used for holistic advancement of industrial technology innovation and decarbonization.
- NASEO-NARUC Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB) and NASEO Industrial Working Groups Joint Forum: Industrial Demand Flexibility - June 11, 2024: This Forum focused on industrial demand flexibility and load management to save money, lower emissions, and reduce grid stresses from industrial operations. Dr. Kody Powell (Intermountain Industrial Assessment Center and University of Utah) and Dr. Blake Billings (Oak Ridge National Lab) presented Working Smarter, Not Harder: Opportunities and Challenges for Industrial Demand Response to Support the Grid and Ilia Krupenich and Akruti Gupta of the California Energy Commission (CEC) presented Industrial Energy Innovation in California highlighting industrial load flexibility opportunities and programs in California.
- DOE Request for information (RFI) to gain strategic and technical feedback on decarbonizing America’s industrial sector is open, seeking input from diverse stakeholder on industrial decarbonization and related matters. Comments are due by June 24, 2024, 5:00 pm ET. This follows DOE’s May 14-15 Workshop to solicit input from stakeholders across the industrial sector to inform the Pathways for U.S. Industrial Transformations: Unlocking American Innovation study. View the recording and slides from the workshop. We are seeking opportunity for a follow-on presentation and discussion for our Working Group.
- Section 48C Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Tax Credit Round 2 webinars: The BlueGreen Alliance (BGA) and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) are hosting a two-part webinar series for economic development organizations and others to support businesses in their region put forth competitive applications.
Part 1: Highlighting 48C Opportunities was recently held (YouTube recording)
Part 2: Designing Competitive and Quality 48C Projects—BGA, RMI, and Evergreen Action will discuss how to build a strong application and plan for a successful clean energy project. Coming June 6, 2024, 1:00 pm ET. (Registration link.)
- Section 48C Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Tax Credit Round 2 – The U.S. Treasury, IRS, and DOE issued Notice 2024-36 regarding up to $6 billion in tax credit allocations for the second round of the 48C(e) Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit Allocation Program, including approximately $2.5 billion for projects located in 48C(e) designated energy communities. Join DOE’s Office of Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains (MESC) and Treasury for a virtual informational webinar for potential applicants. A May 16 webinar provided information about the second allocation round and how to prepare and submit the concept paper. Watch the webinar and view the slides.
- ENERGY STAR Program for Industry launches its Industrial Assistance Network – small and medium-sized manufacturers can access local energy management support to access tools and expertise, earn ENERGY STAR recognition, and receive training and lessons from experienced industrial energy managers.
- Meet the NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing (OAM) – May 28, 2024, 2:00–3:00 pm ET. This office serves as the headquarters for the interagency Advanced National Manufacturing Program office to coordinate Manufacturing USA, a network of manufacturing innovation institutes across the U.S. that brings together industry, academia and the public sector to advance American manufacturing.
- ACEEE: N. Esram, A. Johnson, and N. Elliott (2024) How to Decarbonize Industrial Process Heat While Building American Manufacturing Competitiveness brief recommends actions that policymakers, utilities, and utility regulators can take to catalyze electrification of process heating while supporting the growth of U.S. manufacturing and strengthening the grid. (Blog.)
- DOE announced up to $6 billion will be provided for 33 demonstration projects across more than 20 states to decarbonize energy-intensive industries under the Industrial Demonstration Program. Sectors covered include aluminum and metals, cement and concrete, chemicals and refining, food and beverage, glass, iron and steel, process heat, and pulp and paper.
- DOE announces Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee (ITIAC) appointees. (Congratulations to Working Group member, Jolene Sheil, Focus on Energy Portfolio Manager, Office of Energy Innovation – Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, on her appointment.)
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DOE Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) Implementation Grant Program - Open Solicitation: DOE, in collaboration with ENERGYWERX, has re-opened applications for small and medium-sized manufacturing firms (SMMs) to receive grants of up to $300,000, at 50% cost share, to implement recommendations made in assessments by Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC), DOE CHP/Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships, and other qualified “IAC-equivalent” programs.
- See here for the list of implementation grant selectees, award levels, and project types so far as well as the updated list of “IAC-equivalent” third party assessment providers.
- DOE announces $425 million Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program funding opportunity for small- and medium-sized manufacturers to enable them to build new or retrofit existing manufacturing and industrial facilities in communities where coal mines or coal power plants have closed. These facilities will produce or recycle advanced energy products or contribute to emissions reductions within the manufacturing sector. This round builds on a previous funding round of $275 million for seven projects. This second round prioritizes two areas of interest: (1) Clean Energy Manufacturing and Recycling and (2) Industrial Decarbonization. Full applications are due June 24, 2024, 5:00 pm ET.
- University of Illinois-Chicago, Energy Resources Center, Industrial Decarbonization and Pollution Prevention webinar – March 27, 2024: This webinar highlighted industrial decarbonization approaches and services provided by UIC through its DOE-supported Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) and Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) as well as its EPA-supported pollution prevention (P2) program. (Presentation, recording.)
- NASEO Industrial Working Group Forum: State and Local Pollution Prevention Programs (P2) and Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs (SBEAP) - February 21, 2024: This Forum focused on P2 and environmental assistance programs that offer technical assistance to manufacturing and other enterprises. Ed Gonzalez and Ken Grimm (presentation) of the Pollution Prevention Resource Center discussed technical assistance programs and partnerships offered in the Pacific Northwest as well as the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. Matt Taylor (presentation) and Donovan Grimwood (presentation) of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) offered a focus on their state’s P2 and small business environmental technical assistance programs, respectively, with Donovan also highlighting the National SBEAP. (Recording pending.)
- A Roadmap for Industrial Decarbonization in Pennsylvania (February 2024) was prepared by Strategen for the Ohio River Valley Institute to offer industrial decarbonization pathways through 2050 for all industrial subsectors in Pennsylvania, including fossil fuel extraction and delivery, iron and steel, minerals (e.g., cement, lime), chemicals, and refining, among others. The roadmap explores the role of five major decarbonization levers: energy efficiency, material efficiency, electrification, fuel switching, and carbon capture and storage. (February 21, 2024 webinar slides and recording.)
- American Council of an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE): Johnson, A., A. Fraser, and D. York (2024) Enabling Industrial Demand Flexibility: Aligning Industrial Consumer and Grid Benefits calls on industry, utilities, and states to prepare for increasing loads by investing in strategies and technologies that enable demand flexibility, the ability of industrial facilities to adjust their energy consumption in response to grid conditions.
- DOE Offers $83.1 million for Energy and Emissions Intensive Industries focused on applied R&D and pilot demonstration for the highest GHG-emitting subsectors, specifically chemicals and fuels; iron and steel; food and beverage; cement and concrete, asphalt pavements, and glass; and forest products. Concept papers are due March 19, 2024 and full applications due June 11, 2024. Please see EERE eXCHANGE for more information and the full Funding Opportunity Announcement.
- U.S. Treasury/IRS announcement on proposed guidance on 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit.
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DOE Industrial Technologies Funding and Technical Assistance compendium
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DOE announced 27 new Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) and Building Training and Assessment Centers (BTAC) with intent (expected in early 2024) to release additional opportunities to expand the network of IACs at community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs (including combined labor-management training programs).