US Department of Energy to invest $100M into new clean energy technology

Published on February 16, 2021 by Chris Galford


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Building on the Biden administration’s emphasis on climate change as a priority issue, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced last week that it will invest $100 million into transformative clean energy research and development, with more to come.

The funds will be provided through the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA-E) OPEN 2021 funding opportunity. Since it began work in 2009, ARPA-E has provided $2.4 billion in research and development funding estimated to have brought more than $4.9 billion in private-sector contributions to commercialize clean energy technologies. Applicants can apply, gain help to form new project teams and collaborations and access a variety of related information on the OPEN 2021 website.

“Today, we are inviting scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and creative thinkers around America to join us in developing the energy technologies we need to tackle the climate crisis and build a more equitable clean energy economy,” DOE Chief of Staff Tarak Shah said. “The Department of Energy is committed to empowering innovators to develop bold solutions that will help America achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 while creating millions of good-paying jobs that benefit all Americans.”

The DOE will also join the National Climate Task Force’s Climate Innovation Working Group announced by the White House last week. That group will coordinate federal efforts to encourage new, affordable technologies and reach net zero, economy-wide emissions by 2050. It will also emphasize domestic clean energy supply chains and boost American manufacturing.

“This exciting step is a key pillar of the Democratic Congress and Biden-Harris Administration’s mission to not only reverse the recent anti-science, anti-climate agenda but to Build Back Better – while creating millions of good-paying jobs, protecting public health, advancing America’s preeminence in the green technologies of the future and advancing justice for all,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.