In late November, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a request for information (RFI) seeking input from those involved in the supply chains of energy and energy technologies. According to the request, this information will inform efforts to build an “energy sector industrial base that is diverse, resilient, and competitive while meeting economic, national security, and climate objectives.”
Energy Workforce & Technology Council Member Companies are at the forefront of meeting global energy demand through the development of technologies and processes to make the energy supply chain cleaner and more efficient. A strong energy sector industrial base is vital to the advancement of emerging clean energy technologies; however the intricacies of many clean energy technologies should be considered when developing energy supply chain policy.
Specifically, wind energy technology and carbon capture are areas where Council Member Companies provided input on the RFI describing the innovations and adaption to the energy transition.
In the area of wind energy technology, Council Members are focused on constraints with shipyards, labor and access to rare earth minerals. Compared to Europe, U.S. manufacturing has faced challenges and could look to the European Union for partnerships in offshore wind development. In this area, the Council would also support a DOE loan program aimed to facilitate floating wind and additional studies on the suitability for installation projects.
With respect to carbon capture, storage and transportation, the Council comments highlight material constraints and offers suggestions for the department to address. This includes the acceleration of the carbon economy to offtake infrastructure and finding utilization opportunities for other products such as CH4, O2, O3, industrial chemicals and jet fuel.
The Council encourages the Department of Energy and the Biden Administration to adopt policies that recognize that multiple sources of energy are necessary to keep the economy growing. A strong and healthy domestic supply chain depends on policies that support all forms of lower carbon power generation, including natural gas.
Maria Suarez, Director Government Affairs, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Council’s newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, Council activities and more.
