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Industry is among the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the U.S., producing an estimated 24 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, according to the EPA. While great progress has been made – greenhouse gas emissions from industry, including electricity generation, have declined by 22 percent since 1990 – in many cases, alternative production processes are not cost competitive with those based on conventional production technology.
Reducing emissions across the industrial sector has been a foundational strategy since the Manufacturing USA network was founded in 2014. It is crucial for U.S. manufacturers to confront the climate crisis but also to create jobs for current and next generation workers, decrease their energy costs, and increase America’s global competitiveness. The Biden Administration’s set of economy-wide goals cites reducing industrial emission as key to creating an equitable clean energy future.
The Manufacturing USA network has grown to include 16 manufacturing innovation institutes, which are funded through the departments of Commerce, Defense and Energy and from private sector industry members. Institutes are working with research entities and private sector companies to develop processes to reduce industrial emissions and lower barriers so that more manufacturers can adopt these breakthroughs. While every institute’s projects may contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability, here is a look at some of the many initiatives related to emissions-intensive industrial processes.
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