Biden-Harris Administration Takes Bold Steps To Boost Clean Energy Investments, Create Jobs and Strengthen U.S. Energy Infrastructure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 7, 2024
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION TAKES BOLD STEPS TO BOOST CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS, CREATE JOBS AND STRENGTHEN U.S. ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced over $13 billion to secure our clean energy future with historic investments in nuclear energy, rural clean power, affordable housing retrofits, grid modernization and climate-smart agriculture
Investments across the country will continue driving the U.S. toward a sustainable future while creating thousands of good-paying union jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, President Biden and Vice President Harris continued their aggressive push to build America’s clean energy economy, announcing several significant investments that will create thousands of union jobs, cut energy costs for families and accelerate the nation’s transition to a resilient energy future. These latest actions reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s unwavering commitment to addressing climate change and supporting American workers through clean energy investments as part of their signature Investing in America Agenda.
“President Biden and Vice President Harris are working hard to transition our economy from one reliant on fossil fuels to one where we invest in innovative, sustainable and affordable energy for every working family and small business,” said Eileen Garcia, Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives at Building Back Together. “Last week’s series of announcements confirm what we all know to be true: the clean energy economy of the future need not come at the expense of good-paying jobs for America’s workers, nor at the expense of hardworking families’ checkbooks. Through investments like these, President Biden and Vice President Harris are ensuring that our nation will continue to lead the world on combating the climate crisis and creating resilient energy infrastructure for the next century.”
Here are some of the key actions announced by the Biden-Harris Administration last week:
$1.52 Billion Loan Guarantee to Recommission Michigan’s Palisades Nuclear Plant
In a historic move, the Department of Energy (DOE) finalized a $1.52 billion loan to support the restoration of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan, making it the first nuclear generating station in U.S. history to be recommissioned. This project will provide carbon pollution-free energy for 800,000 households while preserving over 600 union jobs, many of which are filled by workers who have been at the plant for more than 20 years. The recommissioning is a key step in expanding America’s nuclear energy capacity, a vital component of the administration’s strategy to make clean, reliable and affordable energy a reality for all.
$1.3 Billion in Clean Energy Grants to Rural Electric Cooperatives
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $1.3 billion in grants for two rural electric cooperatives to reduce the cost of clean electricity and expand access to affordable, reliable energy for their members. These investments support the deployment of clean energy across rural America, helping to keep electricity costs low while creating thousands of good-paying jobs in rural communities.
$279 Million in Green Retrofits for Affordable Housing
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is investing $279 million to support energy efficiency and climate-resilient retrofits for 3,500 affordable housing units across 23 states. These upgrades will reduce energy costs, generate renewable energy and improve living conditions for low-income households, seniors and persons with disabilities. This is the latest in a series of investments that, to date, have provided more than $1.12 billion in funding to green over 26,000 rental homes across the country.
$1.5 Billion for Transmission Infrastructure Improvements
DOE also announced an investment of $1.5 billion to upgrade and expand the nation’s transmission infrastructure, focusing on projects that will improve grid reliability and resilience. The new programs selected for the Transmission Facilitation Program will support the development of 1,000 miles of new transmission lines and add 7,100 MW of clean energy capacity across several states, including Louisiana, Maine and Oklahoma. This effort is part of the administration’s larger plan to modernize the electric grid and open up access to affordable, clean energy for millions of Americans.
$7.7 Billion for Climate-Smart Agriculture
The USDA announced an unprecedented $7.7 billion in assistance for agricultural and forestry producers to adopt climate-smart practices in 2025. This funding, the most ever made available for USDA conservation programs, will support farmers and ranchers as they implement practices like cover cropping, wetland restoration and prescribed grazing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to climate change.
$1.05 Billion for Charging Ports for Electric Vehicles
The DOE’s Loan Program Office announced a conditional commitment of up to $1.05 billion to support EVgo’s expansion of a nationwide EV fast-charging network. This loan guarantee would enable the deployment of approximately 7,500 charging ports across the U.S., including high-power 350 KW fast chargers. This initiative supports the administration’s goal of establishing 500,000 publicly available EV chargers by 2030. This project will ensure equitable access to EV charging for all Americans, with over 40% of new chargers to be installed in disadvantaged communities.
Continued Investments in Innovative Clean Energy Technologies
The Biden-Harris Administration continues to lead the charge in clean energy innovation with the release of the second 2024 Mission Innovation National Innovation Pathway report. By fostering international collaboration and leveraging investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the report highlights ongoing efforts to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% by 2030 and achieve a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
These announcements come as the Biden-Harris Administration continues to deliver results for the American people, simultaneously tackling the climate crisis, creating millions of clean energy jobs and strengthening U.S. energy security and independence. With investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to American families while fostering technological innovation and economic growth.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to clean energy has not only propelled the U.S. into global leadership in the fight against climate change, but has also driven a boom in American jobs, manufacturing and economic growth. By investing in communities that have powered our nation for generations and ensuring that clean energy jobs are good-paying and union-supported, President Biden and Vice President Harris are building a future where every American can benefit from a cleaner, more resilient energy grid. Already, President Biden and Vice President Harris’ work has created more than 330,000 jobs in the clean energy sector alone.
See notable coverage of the Biden-Harris Administration’s recent clean energy announcements below:
The New York Times: U.S. Approves Billions in Aid to Restart Michigan Nuclear Plant
The Energy Department said on Monday that it had finalized a $1.52 billion loan guarantee to help a company restart a shuttered nuclear plant in Michigan — the latest sign of rising government support for nuclear power.
Two rural electricity providers that planned to buy power from the reactor would also receive $1.3 billion in federal grants under a program approved by Congress to help rural communities tackle climate change.
The moves will help Holtec International reopen the Palisades nuclear plant in Covert Township, Mich., which ceased operating in 2022. The company plans to inspect and refurbish the plant’s reactor and seek regulatory approval to restart the plant by October 2025.
After years of stagnation, America’s nuclear industry is seeing a resurgence of interest. Both Congress and the Biden administration have offered billions of dollars in subsidies to prevent older nuclear plants from closing and to build new reactors. Despite concerns about high costs and hazardous waste, nuclear plants can generate electricity at all hours without emitting the greenhouse gasses that are heating the planet.
David Turk, the deputy secretary of energy, said he expected U.S. electricity demand would grow by 15 percent over the next few years, driven by an increase in electric vehicles, a boom in battery and solar factories as well as a surge of new data centers for artificial intelligence. That meant the nation needs new low-carbon sources of power that could run 24/7 and complement wind and solar plants.
“It’s been incredible to see nuclear power become part of that conversation in a way that just wasn’t happening before,” Mr. Turk said.
Reuters: US offers EVgo conditional $1.05 billion loan for EV chargers
The United States on Thursday offered EVgo a conditional loan guarantee of up to $1.05 billion to expand public electric vehicle-charging infrastructure across the country, some of which in marginalized urban communities.
If finalized, the loan guarantee from the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the Department of Energy will support EVgo’s deployment of about 7,500 public stalls with high power chargers that can power two EVs simultaneously at nearly 1,100 stations.
The financing should help EVgo, which has a high cost of capital, compete with Tesla’s network of chargers, Jigar Shah, the head of the LPO, told Reuters.
“The key is helping the company really achieve far higher customer service scores, (which) will mean that more people want to charge there, and it’ll mean that they’ll be able to pay back our loan faster,” Shah said. EVgo, which is not yet profitable, currently has more than 3,500 fast charging stalls.
Solar Quarter: Biden-Harris Administration Invests $1.5 Billion To Strengthen U.S. Power Grid And Boost Clean Energy Access
The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has announced significant steps to enhance the country’s electricity grid and ensure affordable energy for Americans. In a key move, the DOE is investing $1.5 billion in four major transmission projects, aimed at improving grid reliability, reducing transmission congestion, and giving more people access to affordable clean energy.
These projects, supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will add nearly 1,000 miles of new transmission lines and create 7,100 MW of capacity across six U.S. states. The states benefiting from this investment are Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Additionally, these projects are expected to generate nearly 9,000 jobs.
The administration’s efforts aim to create a more interconnected and resilient grid, supporting growing energy demands while improving everyday life for Americans through affordable, reliable power and job creation