WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden authorized use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) on Monday to speed up the domestic production of key clean energy technologies for use in buildings. He also committed to leverage the federal government’s purchasing power to expand solar manufacturing capacity, and scale up supply chains to ensure America has the parts for a continued transition to renewable energy.
The president is authorizing the Department of Energy to use the DPA to strengthen the resiliency of the nation’s supply chains for heat pumps, building insulation, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and their key components, as well as other clean technologies. President Biden will also continue to push Congress to allocate funding for investments in clean energy.
According to Environment America Research & Policy Center’s report Electric Buildings 2021, three out of every four American homes use fossil fuels directly for space heating, water heating or appliances according to the report. Direct burning of fossil fuels accounts for more than half of all energy used in homes and at least 34% of all energy used in commercial buildings. Meanwhile, completely repowering America’s homes and businesses with electricity by 2050 is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 305.8 million metric tons. That is the equivalent of taking about 65 million of today’s cars off the road — almost three times the number of vehicles in Texas.
Environment America Research & Policy Center’s Senior Director of the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy Johanna Neumann said:
“Climate change is one of the greatest threats to our national security. President Biden’s action to increase production of our best tools for fighting global warming is a move in the right direction.
“The administration’s focus on efficiency and solar, in this order, will benefit consumers and the environment.
“Energy efficiency is the cleanest, fastest and cheapest way for America to meet its energy needs. To lower bills and protect our planet, Americans need to be able to weatherize their homes and replace polluting and inefficient furnaces and air conditioners with efficient electric technologies that can be powered by renewables.
“America has incredible solar potential. Making sure the parts for solar panels are readily accessible will help more communities across America harness the power of the sun.
The sooner we repower our lives with renewable energy, the better it will be for our health and the environment.”
