The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a hefty investment of $428 million for 14 projects to promote clean energy manufacturing in 15 coal communities. These projects, led by small- and medium-sized businesses, were selected by the DOE's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) to address critical vulnerabilities in the country's energy supply chain.

Five of the selected projects will be located in or near disadvantaged communities. They all will include community benefits plans designed to maximize economic, health, and environmental impacts. The DOE emphasized that these projects are crucial for strengthening U.S. national security by building supply chains for existing and emerging clean energy technologies.

This initiative is expected to leverage over $500 million in private sector investment and create more than 1,900 high-quality jobs. The global market for clean energy and carbon reduction technologies is projected to reach a minimum of $23 trillion by 2030.

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm highlighted the importance of leveraging the skills and experience of former coal workers in the transition to a clean energy future. "By leveraging the know-how and skillset of the former coal workforce, we are...helping advance forward-facing technologies and revitalize communities across the nation," Granholm said in a statement.

White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi praised the initiative for its potential to drive an unprecedented expansion of American energy production, manufacturing renaissance, and rebuilding of the middle class. He emphasized that former coal communities are leading the way in the clean energy transition by harnessing the urgent climate challenge.

The selected projects are:

Anthro Energy - Louisville, KY

Funding: $24.9 million

Project: Retrofit facility for domestic production of advanced electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, defense, and consumer electronics.

Jobs Created: Estimated 115 permanent jobs.

CleanFiber - Chehalis, WA and Ennis, TX

Funding: $10 million each

Project: Establish two 60,000 square-foot facilities to produce advanced cellulose insulation from recycled cardboard.

Impact: Will weatherize over 20,000 homes annually and support 80 full-time employees.

TS Conductor - Erie, MI

Funding: $28.2 million

Project: Establish U.S.-based manufacturing of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) conductors for a secure clean grid.

Jobs Created: 425 construction jobs and 162 operational jobs with competitive wages.

Furno Materials Inc - Chicago, IL

Funding:< $20 million

Project: Construct a circular, low-carbon cement production facility using recycled industrial waste.

Impact: Reduces carbon intensity by 47% and creates 80 jobs with above-average wages.

Hempitecture Inc - Rogersville, TN

Funding: $8.42 million

Project: Create a fiber hemp processing facility for building materials, packaging, and automotive industries, reducing carbon intensity by 60-80%.

Jobs Created: 25 full-time positions at 15% above the prevailing rate.

Infinitum - Rockdale, TX

Funding: $34 million

Project: Establish a facility for manufacturing heavy copper, high-powered printed circuit board (HP-PCB) stators, key for high-efficiency motors.

Jobs Created: 170 operating jobs and 125 construction jobs.

MetOx International - Southeast, U.S.

Funding: $80 million

Project:< Establish Project Arch, an advanced superconductor manufacturing facility to enhance grid capacity for renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure.

Jobs Created: 230 jobs in a designated coal community.

Moment Energy Inc - Taylor, TX

Funding: $20.3 million

Project: Create the first UL1974 Certified facility in the U.S. to repurpose EV batteries into affordable energy storage systems.

Jobs Created: 50 construction jobs and 200 new operational jobs.

Mainspring Energy Inc - Coraopolis, PA

Funding: $87 million

Project: Build a facility for 1,000 linear generators that can run on any gaseous fuel.

Jobs Created: 291 construction jobs (80% unionized) and 600 operational positions with competitive pay.

RG Resource Technologies Inc - Lansing, MI

Funding: $5 million

Project: Retrofit a facility to produce 120,000 solar photovoltaic + thermal capture systems annually.

Jobs Created: 160 new full-time positions, with a focus on hiring from disadvantaged communities.

Sparkz Inc - Bridgeport, WV

Funding: $9.8 million

Project: Create a battery-grade iron phosphate (FePO4) plant in the U.S.

Jobs Created: 75 high-quality jobs, with collaboration on training for coal workers through UMWA.

Terra CO2 Holdings - Magna, UT

Funding: $52.6 million

Project: Establish a facility to produce a low-emission, cost-effective replacement for Ordinary Portland Cement.

Jobs Created: 61 new jobs with competitive wages, training up to 144 underrepresented individuals.

Urban Mining Industries - Indiantown, FL and Baltimore, MD

Funding: $37 million

FundingProject: Develop plants to convert recycled glass into a pozzolan, reducing the carbon footprint of concrete.

Jobs Created: 20 new skilled positions.