The Department of Energy (DOE) issued a request for information (RFI) from the public on how the DOE could best leverage the Defense Production Act (DPA) to stimulate domestic manufacturing of clean energy technologies and bolster national security, strengthen U.S. power grid reliability, and increase economic prosperity. Public input will aid in DOE’s design of DPA actions to boost clean energy in beneficial ways for national security and fuel price reductions.
DOE aims to increase manufacturing output and deployment rate of key clean energy technologies. To achieve this goal, DOE seeks public input on how to use the DPA to address:
- Technology supply chain challenges and opportunities
- Domestic manufacturing, including small and medium-sized scale facilities
- American workforce investment
- Energy equity, community access, and economic benefit
DPA authority provides DOE an opportunity to diversify its approach of investment in key technology areas essential to the U.S. economy and national defense. Using DPA authority, DOE could provide supply chains with purchases, purchase commitments, and financial assistance. For example, DOE could expand domestic manufacturing capacity for transformers or key material inputs with direct financial support. DOE’s financial support could provide transformer manufacturers with demand certainty with a commitment to purchase a specified quantity.
This DPA RFI is not limited to transformer technology and encompasses electric grid components; solar photovoltaics; insulation materials; electrolyzers, platinum group metals, and fuel cells for clean hydrogen.
Responses to the RFI must be submitted by 5 p.m. (EST) on November 30, 2022.
Written with the assistance of Mackinlee Rogers, a fall clerk in the Husch Blackwell LLP Austin, Texas office.
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