Biden issues executive orders to spur clean energy construction

Abstract

Dive Brief: President Joe Biden announced on Monday three executive orders under the Defense Production Act to increase domestically manufactured clean energy technology and boost clean energy construction projects. The orders aim to expand manufacturing of critical clean energy technologies and put the financial power of federal procurement behind clean energy. In addition to pausing tariffs amid an ongoing Commerce Department probe to shore up the solar supply chain and prioritizing federal purchase of U.S.-made solar systems, Biden authorized the Department of Energy to rapidly expand domestic manufacturing of: Solar panel parts. The administration said the new orders will help the government meet its goal of eliminating carbon from the country's power supply by 2035, and will protect clean energy jobs and builds. "Together, these actions will spur domestic manufacturing, construction projects and good-paying jobs - all while cutting energy costs for families, strengthening our grid, and tackling climate change and environmental injustice," the White House release said. The executive actions come after the Biden administration in May launched the IIJA-funded Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange to get more sources of clean energy connected to the national power grid. The Act includes $65 billion in clean energy investments.