Clean energy manufacturing

Can energy-rich Pennsylvania chart a path toward decarbonization?

The pivotal swing state has run on coal, oil, and gas, but it’s seeking a new era of economic growth from low-carbon industry and cleantech manufacturing.

By Julian Spector . 15 October 2024

Piles of steel pipes — A historic steel mill site north of Pittsburgh reopened last year to produce torque tubes for the burgeoning solar power industry. (Julian Spector / Canary Media)

Solar

A huge community solar order is latest in US clean manufacturing boom

Solar manufacturer Qcells and developer Summit Ridge announced what they — and the White House — call a record-setting order for the community solar industry.

By Eric Wesoff . 10 April 2023
Clean energy manufacturing

Suddenly, the US is a climate policy trendsetter

In a head-spinning reversal, other Western nations are scrambling to replicate or counter the cleantech manufacturing perks in Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.

By Julian Spector . 7 April 2023
Clean energy supply chain

New South Carolina plant could process enough lithium for 2.4M EVs a year

Chemicals giant Albemarle said it will build a $1.3B lithium plant — a big step toward the Biden admin goal of beefing up the domestic supply chain.

By Julian Spector . 23 March 2023
Batteries

More money for US battery recycling: DOE offers $375M loan to Li-Cycle

It's the second big federal loan this month to help build American facilities that process hard-to-recycle materials — and deal with the future flood of used EV batteries.

By Jeff St. John . 27 February 2023
Solar

Thin-film solar sparks a manufacturing boom in the Midwest

Home to domestically produced solar panels, Ohio is landing lots of new jobs with help from federal incentives and its deep roots in the glass industry.

By Kathiann Kowalski . 22 February 2023
Solar

Qcells to invest $2.5B in building out US solar supply chain

Inflation Reduction Act tax credits spur Qcells to make a major investment in Georgia solar factories and to expand its U.S. polysilicon supply.

By Jeff St. John . 11 January 2023
Long-duration energy storage

Form Energy to build novel iron batteries in West Virginia steel town

The extremely well-funded long-duration storage startup Form Energy found an eager partner in West Virginia’s state government.

By Julian Spector . 22 December 2022
Clean energy

6 clean energy companies that are ramping up US manufacturing

The Inflation Reduction Act provides billions of dollars in tax credits and loans, helping to spur investment in domestic production.

By Shel Evergreen . 21 September 2022
Clean energy

Climate law may revolutionize US cleantech manufacturing. Here's how

The tax credits for solar, wind, batteries and critical minerals will last a decade, scale up with production and boost competitiveness across supply chains.

By Jeff St. John . 16 August 2022
Solar

Solar manufacturing picks up in the US despite lack of policy support

Qcells, First Solar, Nextracker and GAF Energy are all expanding capacity to produce solar products in the U.S. — no thanks to Joe Manchin and the Republicans in Congress.

By Eric Wesoff . 25 July 2022