Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, General Motors Co. in Detroit, and Rivian in Plymouth Township co-signed with Pepsi Co., Ball Corp., SunPower, and eight other companies a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Sec. Jennifer Granholm highlighting the need for the nation to invest in clean aluminum.
Amid plummeting primary aluminum production in the U.S., the DOE “must invest in American-made clean aluminum to retain and create manufacturing jobs, reduce industrial emissions, and grow a vitally important industry,” the letter reads.
It goes on to say that by using investments from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to expand and secure an affordable supply of clean energy, the Biden administration can modernize and grow this industry, rather than letting American-made primary aluminum disappear.
“Ford is committed to achieving carbon neutrality across our vehicles, operations, and supply chain no later than 2050, and sourcing domestically produced, lower-carbon primary aluminum is part of a host of actions we are taking that will help us meet our ambitious sustainability goals,” says Cynthia Williams, global director of sustainability, homologation and compliance at Ford.
“The Inflation Reduction Act presents a powerful opportunity for the Department of Energy to prioritize American-made, clean sources of aluminum, which will in turn make more sustainable options available to companies like Ford. It’s going to take all of us — manufacturers, suppliers, energy providers, and government — working together to build a better future that’s not just good for business, but also for people and the planet.”
The letter was published on buycleanaluminum.com as well as in full page ads in five newspapers: The Albany Times-Union, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Louisville Courier-Journal, The South Carolina Post and Courier, and the Indianapolis Star, each newspaper in a market with one of the remaining six primary aluminum smelters. The letter also was accompanied by a digital ad campaign and mobile takeover on Politico.
“Ball Corp. is working to cut more than half of the greenhouse gas emissions from operations and supply chains by 2030,” says Ramon Arratia, chief sustainability officer for Ball Corp. “As a significant buyer of aluminum can sheet, we’re using our purchasing power to help transform the aluminum beverage packaging sector to low-carbon primary aluminum and low carbon recycled aluminum, but we can’t do it alone.
“The Biden administration has an opportunity right now to rapidly accelerate the decarbonization of primary aluminum refining and smelting in the U.S., and make America a global leader in producing clean aluminum.”
The actions outlined in the letter, the signees say, would help secure a robust supply chain of sustainably manufactured clean aluminum in the U.S., reduce emissions, create family-sustaining jobs, and realize the full potential of the landmark climate law. These companies warn the American primary aluminum industry is at risk of disappearing, just as demand is set to skyrocket.
“Spiking electricity prices, lack of access to low-cost renewable energy, and insufficient federal investment have pushed the remaining six primary smelters to the brink,” the letter states. “The IRA is poised to make the largest-ever investment in U.S. manufacturing, supercharging aluminum-dependent clean energy technologies. In order to meet increased aluminum demand that will affect all our industries, the U.S. must invest heavily in supply.”
Aluminum is “indispensable” to everyday food and beverage products, as well as the building blocks of the clean energy economy such as solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, transmission lines, electric vehicles, and more that are poised to transform the U.S. in the coming decades. Global demand for aluminum is set to increase nearly 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. Yet, in the past 18 months, the U.S. primary aluminum industry has been plagued by layoffs, curtailed production, and closures due in part to the volatile price of fossil fuels.
The Department of Energy has a generational opportunity to revive the U.S. primary aluminum industry thanks to the IRA. DOE officials are currently evaluating applications from aluminum companies to invest IRA dollars that will reduce emissions from manufacturing processes and power supplies.
“SunEarth is committed to not only providing sustainable solar hot water solutions, but also to supporting American manufacturing,” says Adam Chrisman, president of SunEarth. “Our use of low-carbon aluminum in our products is a testament to our dedication to reducing our environmental impact and promoting domestic content. By incorporating this eco-friendly material, we not only add value to our systems but also to the U.S. manufacturing industry as a whole. We are proud to be a part of the movement for a greener future, and we will continue to lead the charge in sustainable solar technology.”
The aluminum industry’s reliance on fossil fuels has put its future in jeopardy, according to the letter signees. Power supply accounts for 40 percent of U.S. smelters’ total production costs, and smelters in Kentucky and Indiana say high energy costs due to volatile fossil fuel prices necessitated curtailing operations last year. At the same time, the price of electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar has plummeted over the last 10 years. Rather than allow these smelters to become priced out, the federal government can secure low-cost electricity supplies in the short term while investing in long-term supplies of cheap, renewable energy.
