Oct 22, 2024 - Energy & Climate

Energy Department unveils new projects in hard-hit coal regions

Ben Geman

Illustration of a gloved hand cutting into a chunk of coal with a scalpel. — Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios

The Energy Department just announced 14 "clean" manufacturing projects it plans to stake in regions hit by closures of coal mines and coal-fired power plants.

Why it matters: Many of the projects use recycled materials and aim to shore up domestic supply chains, officials said.

Driving the news: The agency on Tuesday detailed nearly $430 million in planned cost-sharing grants under the 2021 infrastructure law.

It's the second tranche under the Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program.
The latest projects combined will create over 1,900 jobs, and direct and indirect emissions "abated" will be greater than Iceland's annual total, Deputy Secretary David Turk told reporters.

What they're saying: "By leveraging the know-how and skillset of the former coal workforce, we are strengthening our national security while helping advance forward-facing technologies and revitalize communities across the nation," Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.

State of play: Examples of the planned grants include:

Nearly $25M for Anthro Energy's planned Louisville, Kentucky, project to make advanced electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries.
$20M for two CleanFiber, Inc. projects in Washington state and Texas that would make advanced insulation from recycled cardboard.
$87M for a Mainspring Energy plant near Pittsburgh to make its "linear generator" power systems.

What's next: It's not guaranteed cash. Projects now face more negotiations with DOE to get the money flowing.

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Energy Department unveils new projects in hard-hit coal regions

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