EnviroPolitics Blog

Feds announce $10.9M to expand domestic supplies of lithium through geothermal brine extraction

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $10.9 million for 10 projects across nine states that will advance innovative technologies to extract and convert battery-grade lithium from geothermal brine sources in the United States. This work will increase America’s access to cost-effective, domestic sources of this critical material needed for batteries for stationary storage and electric vehicles to meet the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of 50% electric vehicle adoption by 2030 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

Currently, the United States has limited capabilities to produce and refine domestically sourced lithium. Direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines represents an opportunity to domestically produce lithium hydroxide—the form of lithium used for advanced batteries—in an efficient and environmentally friendly way.

“A strong, domestic supply chain for lithium is crucial for our nation’s clean energy economy,” said Alejandro Moreno, Acting Assistant Secretary for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). ”This investment will support innovations leading to safe and sustainable production of the lithium we need for batteries for electric vehicles and the grid right here at home.”

The 10 projects were selected from two Topic Areas:

Click here for the full list of selected projects.

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Canadian solar panel manufacturer—Heliene plans a significant U.S. expansion with a $145 million factory

By Derick Lila, PV Buzz

Aiming to revolutionize the US solar industry, Canadian manufacturer Heliene is planning a massive $145 million facility in Minnesota. This landmark expansion, backed by the Orion Infrastructure Capital and motivated by Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, sets the stage for a greener American future.

The company aims to construct a brand-new factory in Minnesota, capable of producing both solar modules and cells, as detailed in an exclusive interview with Reuters by Heliene’s CEO.

Heliene, already possessing solar panel manufacturing operations in both Iron Mountain, Minnesota, and Ontario, Canada, joins a growing list of companies dedicated to boosting U.S. solar production.

This increase in domestic manufacturing commitment is primarily due to President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, introduced last year.

The Act, designed to stimulate the production of clean energy equipment domestically, provides tax incentives to both manufacturers and purchasers.

Heliene’s new factory, projected to cost around $145 million and located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area will have the capacity to produce roughly one gigawatt of modules and 1.5 gigawatts of cells annually, according to CEO Martin Pochtaruk.

These plans for Heliene’s growth and development, which were previously unreported, are viable due to a substantial investment by the New York-based Orion Infrastructure Capital (OIC).

Read the full story here

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Washington’s lightbulb wars go dark

BY KELSEY TAMBORRINO, Politico Power Switch

A vintage-style incandescent light bulb is shown with an LED light bulb and a compact florescent light bulb.

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Germans study benefits of growing hops for beer under solar panels

Solar panels are mounted on poles above a hops field near Au in der Hallertau, Germany, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Solar panels atop crops has been gaining traction in recent years as incentives and demand for clean energy skyrocket. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

From the Associated Press Posted at 9:08 AM, Jul 22, 2023 and last updated 9:08 AM, Jul 22, 2023

AU IN DER HALLERTAU, Germany (AP) — Bright green vines snake upwards 20 feet (six meters) toward an umbrella of solar panels at Josef Wimmer’s farm in Bavaria.

He grows hops, used to make beer, and in recent years has also been generating electricity, with solar panels sprawled across 1.3 hectares (32 acres) of his land in the small hop-making town of Au in der Hallertau, an hour north of Munich in southern Germany.

The pilot project — a collaboration between Wimmer and local solar technology company Hallertauer Handelshaus — was set up in the fall of last year. The electricity made at this farm can power around 250 households, and the hops get shade they’ll need more often as climate change turbocharges summer heat.

Solar panels atop crops has been gaining traction in recent years as incentives and demand for clean energy skyrocket. Researchers look into making the best use of agricultural land, and farmers seek ways to shield their crops from blistering heat, keep in moisture and potentially increase yields. The team in Germany says its effort is the first agrivoltaic project that’s solely focused on hops, but projects have sprouted around the world in several countries for a variety of grains, fruits and vegetables.

Agrivoltaics is the technical term for using land for both solar energy and crops
Solar Panels Plus Farming? Agrivoltaics Explained (video)

Beer-making hops can suffer if exposed to too much sun, said Bernhard Gruber, who’s managing the project’s solar component — and since there were already solar installations on the farm, it made sense to give them a second purpose by mounting them on poles above the crops.

In addition to shielding plants from solar stress, the shade could mean “water from precipitation lasts longer, leaving more in the soil” and that “the hops stay healthier and are less susceptible to diseases,” Gruber said. A scientific analysis of the benefits for the plants will be concluded in October.

Read the full story here

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GOP-led Appropriations committee approves slashing EPA budget, pulling back Environmental Justice grants

The committee called for more attention to chemical recycling, plastic-based fuel research and PFAS destruction technology.

By Megan Quinn, Senior Reporter, Waste Dive Published July 24, 2023

The sign for the EPA is pictured. — *Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images*

Listen to the article5 min

A budget approved by the House Appropriations committee Wednesday proposes major spending cuts to the U.S. EPA and environmental justice efforts, but also outlined support for chemical recycling, plastics research and other waste and recycling initiatives.

The Republican-controlled committee said the fiscal year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies budget bill was designed for “reining in” what it considers unnecessary discretionary spending by proposing a nearly $4 billion cut to the EPA’s budget, which would be a 39% reduction over 2023. It also called for rescinding $1.35 billion in environmental and climate justice grants funded through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Tracking the future of US recycling policy in Congress

Spurred by market challenges, the Hill has seen a historic influx of big bills. Keep up on all the latest developments with our legislative tracker.

House Appropriations Committee chair Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, said drastic cuts were necessary in part because of national debt and inflation issues. But ranking member Chellie Pingree, D- Maine, said the proposed bill “will completely debilitate America’s ability to address the climate crisis.”

Groups like the Clean Budget Coalition have spoken out against the appropriation committee’s call to rescind EJ grant funding, saying the proposed cuts will have a negative effect on environmental remediation programs and initiatives that battle legacy pollution. It’s also a hit to the federal Justice40 initiative, which directs 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities, the coalition said.

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New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli to leave her post

From NJ Spotlight News

New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli will be stepping down from the post after a historic tenure overseeing the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persichilli announced her plans in an interview with NJ.com, saying she planned to officially retire at the end of August.
Touted by Gov. Phil Murphy in his then-daily COVID press briefings as the women “who needs no introduction,” Persichilli became the public face of the state’s response to the pandemic — in both its triumphs and failures.
Persichilli, a former hospital administrator and the first nurse to serve in the state’s highest health position, mostly drew public praise from advocates today.
“Judy was the steady hand and calm voice we needed during the worst public health crisis of our lifetimes,” said Cathy Bennett, president of the state’s hospital association.

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