ESG Today writes that DOE officials opened applications for an 83 million USD fund aimed at hard-to-abate sectors, such as food, building and steelmaking, as these account for 65% of the US' total carbon footprint. Part of the funding worth 37 million USD will be used for the decarbonization of iron and steel manufacturing, including through the implementation of hydrogen.D

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said that "ensuring America’s industrial sector and its robust workforce remain strong and competitive is key to maintaining our nation’s edge as a global economic powerhouse and accelerating President Biden’s vision of a strong, made-in-America clean energy future."

The development of sustainable industrial heating processes will be funded with 25 million USD, while sustainable cement and concrete production projects will receive 20 million USD in total. The 49 most effective emissions-reduction projects will be rewarded with 171 million USD.

"Today’s announcement will help advance the innovative technologies we need to lower costs and improve energy efficiency in America’s factories and industrial centers", Granholm added.