The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recently established the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations with funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the advancement of clean energy technology.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides more than $20 billion for the office, which will contribute significantly to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 initiative and goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, a Dec. 21 DOE press release said.
“Thanks to the investments Congress made in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations will move clean energy technologies out of the lab and into local and regional economies across the country, proving the value of technologies that can deliver for communities, businesses and markets,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in the release. “This new office will hire the best and brightest talent to invest in cutting edge clean energy projects, and DOE is calling on anyone dedicated to addressing the climate crisis to roll up their sleeves and join us.”
The funds are part of a $62 billion investment in the DOE to work on clean energy demonstrations, which the department believes will produce technologies that attract private investors, the release said. This will have the dual purpose of reducing the nation’s impact on climate change and creating employment opportunities nationwide.
“This new Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations reflects President Biden’s commitment to help Americans turn on the lights in their homes, drive to work, and power their businesses using clean, affordable and sustainable energy,” Mitch Landrieu, White House senior advisor and infrastructure implementation coordinator, said in the release. “This office will make life easier and safer for Americans all across the country.”
The Justice40 initiative, which aims to provide 40% of clean energy benefits to underserved areas and communities “experiencing the first and worst impacts of climate change,” will benefit through a significant investment in demonstration projects undertaken in rural and disadvantaged areas, the release said.
