DOE Awards $275M to Strengthen Clean Energy Supply Chain

WASHINGTON — The Department of Energy has awarded $275 million to seven projects it says will strengthen domestic supply chains for clean energy businesses and accelerate the sector’s growth in communities that had formerly been dependent on coal for their livelihood.

The announcement came during the inaugural meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience.

In a press release the department said that thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, the projects will be able to leverage more than $600 million in private sector investments into small- and medium-sized manufacturers.

In the process, they are expected to create nearly 1,500 “high-quality, good-paying” jobs in cutting edge technologies. 

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is driving the manufacturing boom while preserving the communities and workforce that have powered our nation for generations,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in a written statement.  

“With these historic investments, DOE will bring new economic opportunities and ensure these communities continue their key role in strengthening America’s national and energy security,” she added.

The portfolio of projects will address critical clean energy supply chain vulnerabilities by supporting key materials and components for energy storage for grid and transportation uses, wind energy and energy efficient solutions for buildings. 

In addition to co-location with energy communities, the majority of selected projects will be in or adjacent to disadvantaged communities, supporting the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to ensure every community is included in our clean energy future.

The award recipients are:

Alpen High-Performance Products, Inc., of Louisville, Colorado, and Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. 

Amount: $5.8 million.

Alpen High-Performance Products, Inc. is producing affordable energy conservation technologies for residential and commercial properties. These first-of-a-kind manufacturing operations will automate triple/quadruple pane insulated glass unit production and increase the supply of low-cost, energy efficient window options. 

According to the DOE: “This project will increase Alpen HPP’s production 10 times, create 100 good-paying jobs through investment in automation, and significantly reduce customers’ energy use and home heating and cooling costs.”

Boston Metal, of Weirton, West Virginia. 

Amount: $50 million. 

Boston Metal is bringing the production of critical materials essential for many clean-energy industries including nuclear, wind, hydro, concentrating solar power, geothermal, fuel cells and green steel back to the United States, the department said. 

Boston Metal will build and operate the only domestic high-purity chromium and refractory metal alloy factory producing ultrapure chromium metal, high-temperature alloys and near net shape parts.

The project is expected to create 200 high-tech jobs with a focus on local hiring. In addition, the company has committed to tailoring its workforce training programs to re-skill legacy workers, expand diversity in the workforce and vendor network, as well as provide wrap-around services such as expanding child care services. 

Carter Wind Turbines, LLC, of  Vernon, Texas. 

Amount: $20 million.

Carter Wind Turbines, a family owned company, is bringing hybrid wind turbines and energy storage systems to scale production and improve wind energy access for remote, rural locations and rugged terrains. 

Carter is building a new facility to produce innovative, onshore, mid-sized 300 kW wind turbines.

The company has said it will creating 300 new high-quality manufacturing jobs, unlocking additional funding from the private sector and engaging extensively with the community to negotiate agreements and invest in workforce development and diversity, the department said. 

CorePower Magnetics, Inc., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

Amount: $20 million. 

CorePower Magnetics, Inc. is building an advanced metals and component manufacturing facility to boost domestic supply chain resiliency of transformers and motors for grid and electric vehicle applications. 

The project is retrofitting a former coal-fired power plant to leverage a significant network of existing utilities, transportation and facilities to create a domestic manufacturing facility that is expected to install 10,000 tons of capacity for amorphous metals and magnetic component production. 

This will increase U.S. production by 20% and meet an estimated 10% of global demand for these materials. 

FastCAP Systems d/b/a Nanoramic Laboratories of Bridgeport, Connecticut. 

Amount: $47.5 million. 

Nanoramic is establishing a lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in a former coal community in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The plant is expected to improve stationary storage and battery supply chains with the production of 2 GWh of lithium iron phosphate battery electrodes, producing 20% of domestic material supply needs, to support renewable energy installations. 

Bridgeport is a DOE Communities LEAP recipient and Nanoramic is executing a Community Benefits Agreement driving the creation of 200 permanent jobs in a disadvantaged community.

LuxWall Inc. of Detroit, Michigan. 

Amount: $31.7 million. 

LuxWall is building the first high-volume, fully automated vacuum insulated glass unit production plant in the United States for residential and commercial windows.

The new facility is expected to create 277 new jobs and reinvigorating the site of a former coal generation plant in the Delray neighborhood of South Detroit. 

This project will establish onshore manufacturing of a critical Advanced Energy Property, while enhancing U.S. competitiveness in the global windows market. The facility will manufacture up to 562,000 high-performance VIG units per year, the department said. 

In addition, LuxWall has committed to hiring a diverse and empowered workforce to install windows in the local community, and to establish robust training and apprenticeship programs in clean energy manufacturing in South Detroit.

MP Assets Corporation.

Location: Virginia.

Amount: $100 million. 

MP Assets is building a project in Virginia to produce world-class separators for lithium-ion batteries integral to electric vehicle supply chains. 

MP Assets will provide 282 permanent jobs for double-distressed coal and Justice40 communities and will ensure that at least 85% of full-time employees are from local disadvantaged communities by the completion of the project.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue