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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: The Biden administration announced up to $6 billion in funding for 33 projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions from industrial sources, including steel mills, cement plants, and a Kraft Heinz macaroni and cheese factory in Michigan
• This move is part of a broader climate agenda, marking the largest investment in cutting industrial emissions in U.S. history
🔭 The context: Industrial activities contribute to nearly a third of overall U.S. greenhouse gas emissions
• The funded projects are expected to cut more than 14 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to removing around 3 million gasoline-powered cars from the roads each year
• The initiative also emphasizes support for disadvantaged communities, with nearly 80 percent of the projects located in such areas
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: As transportation and energy emissions decrease, industry is projected to become the most polluting sector by the early 2030s
• This federal investment aims to accelerate the decarbonization of critical industries, potentially steering the United States towards a more sustainable industrial future
⏭️ What's next: The projects include a range of innovative technologies, such as zero-carbon aluminum casting, carbon capture and storage at a large cement plant, and the deployment of clean technologies like heat pumps at Kraft Heinz's mac and cheese factory to drastically reduce emissions
• The private sector is expected to contribute an additional $14 billion, totaling a $20 billion investment industrial decarbonization
💬 One quote: "These projects offer solutions to slash emissions in some of the highest-emitting sectors of our economy," (US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm)
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