Ford Calls for Clean Aluminum
Primary aluminum production in the U.S. has been dropping, Ford has joined a team of other major American companies, including General Motors, Pepsi Co., Ball Corp., Rivian, and SunPower, to send a letter to the Department of Energy’s Secretary Jennifer Granhold requesting that the American government use funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to invest in American-made clean aluminum to retain and create manufacturing jobs, reduce industrial emissions, and grow a crucial industry.
“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,” said 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.”
Published online and in five major newspapers– The Albany Times-Union, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Louisville Courier-Journal, the South Carolina Post and Courier, and the Indianapolis Star– this outreach calls for American-made primary aluminum to receive the support it requires rather than being allowed to fade and disappear. It outlines actions that would help the supply chain grow into a robust and sustainable industry that could reduce emissions, create vital jobs, and realize the full potential of the landmark climate law as well as providing a crucial resource just as demand is predicted 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.”
Reliance on fossil fuels is holding back the American aluminum industry in its current state, with high energy costs making the process not only environmentally unsustainable, but economically unsustainable as well. However, as the price of renewable energy has plummeted and is continuing to drop, assistance from the federal government in securing low-cost electrical supplies while investing in long-term supplies of renewable energy could revolutionize and revitalize the industry, in turn affecting other American industries including food and beverage, construction, automotive manufacturing, and more.
“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,” said Cynthia Williams.
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