Biden admin giving universities, businesses $135 million to push 'net-zero' climate agenda

The Biden administration announced Thursday it will be writing checks totaling $135 million to universities, labs and businesses that will undertake projects that further the green energy transition.

The President’s Energy Department (DOE) will fund 40 different projects “led by 36 different universities, National Laboratories, and companies” throughout the U.S. for “research, development, and pilot-scale demonstrations” on reducing emissions to achieve "net-zero" by 2050.

DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office will oversee the funding. 

Ultimately, the projects fall under six “decarbonizing” categories and are funded as follows:

• Chemicals (9 projects, $38.3M)
• Iron and steel (10 projects, $31.9M)
• Food and beverage (3 projects, $11.4M)
• Cement and concrete (5 projects, $16.4M)
• Paper and forest products (6 projects, $16.2M)
• Cross-sector technologies (7 projects, $20.4M)

“These projects… will slash industrial emissions and accelerate next-generation technologies for a clean energy future that’s made in America,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in the announcement.

“America’s industrial sector serves as the engine of the U.S. economy… but also produces a significant amount of the nation’s carbon emissions,” she added.

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