ICYMI: Innovation and Energy Justice at the Forefront of DOE’s Mission

With so much going on daily across the agency, we’re sharing some of the key highlights that you might have missed. Learn how DOE has been moving the needle to deliver innovative solutions to Build Back Better and tackle climate change, while promoting energy justice.

Innovation Across America

On August 15-16, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm toured parts of Alaska with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski. The Secretary’s visit highlighted how the investments from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda will advance American innovation, generate good-paying jobs in Alaska and across America, and deliver a healthier environment for all. As Secretary Granholm said, "Alaska has the solutions! Through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and #BuildBackBetter Agenda, Alaska will lead our clean energy future. That means good-paying union jobs to build back our energy economy stronger than ever before."

Brett Lake, U.S. Department of Energy

Recently, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm traveled to Alaska to join U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski visiting clean energy research and development sites and renewable energy facilities in Fairbanks and Anchorage. Alaska is warming faster than any other state, bringing the challenges and opportunities for solutions to address the climate crisis front and center. The trip was jam-packed, and we've got a recap here for you.

“Indigenous communities have been finding solutions for centuries,” Secretary Granholm said during her visit. “We can learn from experience here.”

Share the video with your friends and family on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn) and read more about the U.S. Department of Energy’s work in Alaska.

Straight from Alaska, Secretary Granholm joined U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich for two days across New Mexico to tout the benefits of the infrastructure bill, the Build Back Better Agenda and the state’s ongoing energy transition. New Mexico is taking on electrification and building new clean energy sources to lower costs, better public health and create more equitable, resilient and efficient communities. Together, they visited the Four Corners region to see and hear about the efforts to transition from traditional oil and gas to clean energy solutions, joining a roundtable with Tribal and local leaders to highlight the Biden administration’s commitment to ensure these communities are part of our clean energy future.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm celebrated the Summer of Solar with a visit to Pablo Diaz-Gutierrez’s home in Berkeley, California, to check out his solar panels.

Brett Lake, U.S. Department of Energy

Next, Secretary Granholm visited Berkeley, California, home to DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. There she toured a wide range of climate, energy and critical innovations at the Lab, before joining local leaders and residents at a solar-powered home to discuss DOE’s Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP+), an online tool that helps local governments cut red tape in the review and approval of residential solar power and battery storage.

And P.S. - this week, Berkeley Lab celebrated their 90th anniversary!

The fun isn’t only on the road, Secretary Granholm also joined musician and activist Adam Met virtually to talk about the importance of taking action — at all levels — to combat the climate crisis. We all have a vital role to play to build a clean energy future that benefits all communities. Watch their full conversation below.

Secretary Granholm and Adam Met, climate advocate and musician, discuss the importance of taking action — at all levels — to combat the climate crisis and the vital role everyone must play to build a clean energy future that benefits all communities. Inspired by his experience in the music industry, Adam Met explains how he became an advocate for a better, more resilient future for all. To accomplish that, we must engage new audiences, coming up with bold solutions, and address inequities that have held back underserved areas and communities of color for far too long. With President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, Build Back Better Agenda, and other initiatives like Justice 40, we can make sure those who have suffered the most are the first to benefit from our clean energy future.

Brett Lake, U.S. Department of Energy

Investing in Energy Solutions

DOE continues to make major investments and see breakthroughs in science. Through the tireless work of DOE’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and countless other partners, the Lab announced a major milestone was reached in the quest for fusion ignition. For a fraction of a second, the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore produced 10% as much power as all the sunshine hitting the Earth.

And, more announcements!

$24 million in funding for nine research projects to explore and develop new methods of capturing and storing carbon from the air. Direct Air Capture is an expanding field in decarbonization and a key facet of the plan to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The nine awards are led by two national laboratories and seven universities, including North Carolina A&T State University, an Historically Black University.
$6 million to change the game for 5G wireless integration with our scientific facilities, paving the way to enable more breakthroughs than ever in artificial intelligence, automation, and quantum info science.
$61 million to advance infrastructure and research around quantum information science via the DOE's Office of Science. With quantum information science we can innovate and dream big to solve complex climate and security challenges.
$37 million from NNSA to support the commercial production of a critical medical isotope, Molly-99. This will back production of a critical isotope used in more than 40,000 medical procedures in the United States each day, including the diagnosis of heart disease and cancer, to be made safely without using highly enriched uranium.
$54 million to increase energy efficiency in microelectronics design and production. DOE’s national labs will do groundbreaking research and development in computing, communication, and sensing for broad use technologies. Catch Deputy Secretary Dave Turk talking about the announcement in a panel discussion earlier this week.

Stay tuned for more on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, our podcast, or of course, energy.gov.

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