DOE Awards $428M to Address 'Critical' Energy Supply Chain Needs

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $428 million to 14 projects across 12 states to address vulnerabilities in the nation's domestic energy supply chain. 

The projects selected are each focused on one of five key areas: energy grid components, batteries, low-carbon materials, clean power generation, and energy-efficient products. According to an October 22 release from the DOE, the larger goal was to "address critical energy supply chain vulnerabilities" in communities with de-commissioned coal facilities. 

"Each project further positions the United States to win the competition for the 21st century, and strengthen our national security by building supply chains for existing and emerging technologies in America, built by American workers with American materials," the release reads. 

That includes nearly $25 million for a project in Louisville, Kentucky, to retrofit a facility to manufacture materials used in lithium-ion batteries to power electric vehicles; $34 million for a Rockdale, Texas facility that will produce copper circuit boards for EV engines; and $20.3 million for a Taylor, Texas facility that will repurpose used EV batteries for battery energy storage systems.