The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced a $250 million funding opportunity to accelerate the nation's electric heat pump manufacturing.
The first funding opportunity announcement stemmed from new authorization DOE received from President Joe Biden Biden last summer to use the Defense Production Act to increase domestic production of key clean energy technologies, according to an April 18 news release. Electric heat pumps are included in those key clean energy technologies.
"Electric heat pumps offer a cheaper, more reliable option for heating and cooling that isn’t prone to dramatic price swings and helps to strengthen the nation’s energy independence," Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm said in the news release. "President Biden authorized DOE to lead this charge knowing that Americans across the country will feel the benefits — from the manufacturing workers leading development and deployment, to the consumers who will benefits from energy savings."
Money for the funding opportunity comes from the Inflation Reduction Act and "will be used to build a clean energy economy, create good-paying manufacturing jobs and help families save money on their energy bills," the news release said.
"Increased use of electric heat pumps, for heating and cooling, will help lower energy costs for more American families and businesses and create healthier indoor spaces through American-made clean energy technologies," the release reported.
Heating and cooling buildings, hospitals, schools, military bases and other facilities account for more than 40% of the total energy consumption in the nation, the release said.
U.S. manufacturers may apply for funding to develop electric heat pump systems, materials and components, according to the release. DOE is looking for projects that focus on constructing new facilities, expanding existing ones or retooling current facilities to produce electric heat pump materials.
This initiative will help develop a workforce trained to support clean energy technologies, which will be crucial to building a clean energy economy, the release reported.
