• 5 MIN READ

Industrial Innovation Initiative Brings Industrial Decarbonization Recommendations to Capitol Hill

Industry, labor, and nonprofit representatives recently headed to Capitol Hill to advocate for federal policies that can put the industrial sector on track to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, both a national and global goal to curb the worst potential effects of climate change.

The Industrial Innovation Initiative (I3), run by the Great Plains Institute (GPI) and World Resources Institute, organized the day to share recommendations from its new 2024 Federal Policy Blueprint that represents the priorities of 19 signatory members of its coalition from a broad range of backgrounds.

I3 kicked off the day at the Capitol with a media briefing roundtable, including the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s Pavitra Srinivasan, LanzaTech’s Tom Dower, Laborers’ International Union of North America’s Ryan Sandmann, Portland Cement Association’s Josh Reiner, and GPI Communications Director Drew Henry as moderator. Members then headed to 13 Congressional offices of both chambers and parties to discuss bipartisan industrial decarbonization next steps.

“The US very clearly cannot meet its climate goals unless we address industrial emissions, which is why we’re all here,” Dower said in the roundtable.

Speakers emphasized that establishing clear standards and monitoring for carbon emissions produced during the industrial production process to make products key to everyday life, such as cement and steel, will be critical in protecting domestic industrial facilities, particularly as other regions in the world begin implementing their own standards.

The I3 blueprint outlines actionable policy recommendations Congress and the Administration can adopt to protect industry while creating new job opportunities for local communities across the country. Several key recommendations include:

  • Build-out of supportive infrastructure for carbon management and hydrogen, such as for transportation and storage, as well as improved regulatory oversight of these processes;
  • Access to affordable, clean electricity to meet industrial energy demand while accounting for industrial needs across the energy system, such as further development of the transmission and distribution system;
  • Robust data reporting and greenhouse gas benchmarking standards for embodied carbon that together underpin the success of green procurement and related policies; and
  • Support for market innovation to enable the rapid scale up of cost-competitive, low-emissions technologies through government funding and support for existing markets or tax credits and RDD&D.

“You want to create a suite of technologies that will carry you through,” Srinivasan said.

These recommendations build upon the momentum of two pieces of landmark energy legislation Congress passed in the last few years – the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act – that opened significant funding pathways for clean energy projects, research, and development.

“Where I see the blueprint being really helpful is filling in the gaps,” Dower said. “We’ve done the big stuff, but this is the connective tissue.”

Srinivasan noted protecting American trade competitiveness and implementing policies that improve American manufacturing benefit the country in numerous ways, including supporting good-paying jobs on the community level.

“In the end, it helps American communities. We’re breathing cleaner air,” Srinivasan said. “It’s building better projects.”

For more information on policy recommendations outlined, check out the 2024 Federal Policy Blueprint and the summary blueprint factsheet.

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Labor Engagement Manager for Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management, GPI

Alejandro comes to GPI from Labor Union SEIU-United Service Workers West. He represented union workers from downtown Los Angeles and LA’s westside corridor of Century City, Westwood, and Beverly Hills. Alejandro enforced various collective bargaining agreements for union workers, ensuring annual wage increases, health insurance, and other benefits and protections. In addition, he worked with union leaders and outside stakeholders, such as community partners, public agencies, politicians, and industry experts, to develop and execute union campaigns. Alejandro was also part of the Los Angeles-Justice for Janitors 2021 union contract campaign—he helped execute and coordinate large-scale actions across LA’s metropolitan area. Previously, he served as the Nevada state canvassing director at For Our Future Action Fund. He holds a BA in international studies and Italian from the University of Kansas.

Senior Program Coordinator for Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management, GPI

Carrie Danner joined the Great Plains Institute in 2023 and serves as the operations coordinator for the Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management team. In her work, she supports all projects within the program to elevate operations, particularly in grant-making and event planning. Carrie earned a bachelor’s degree from Knox College in environmental studies. Prior to joining GPI, she supported programs at the Conservation Corps of Minnesota & Iowa as their member experience administrator.

Industry Program Coordinator, GPI

Alana joined GPI in 2024 as a program associate on the Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management team, specifically supporting the Industrial Innovation Initiative, where she helps to advance industrial decarbonization through GPI’s consensus-building approach. Alana previously worked as an account executive at Jamf, where she helped current K-12 education customers improve and scale the management and security of their Apple device deployments. Alana has spent most of her professional years working with Minnesota nonprofits, including two years as an AmeriCorps member with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. She holds a bachelor’s degree in community environmental studies from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Zachary Byrum, Research Analyst, WRI

Zachary Byrum is a Research Analyst in WRI's U.S. Climate Program, where he provides technology and policy analysis for carbon removal and deep decarbonization. His work focuses on pathways to reduce industrial emissions as well as bolstering technological carbon removal. Prior to WRI, Zach was a research assistant in the Carbon Management Research Initiative at the Center on Global Energy Policy. In the preceding years, he served as White House Intern in the National Economic Council under the Obama Administration and then an assistant analyst at the Congressional Budget Office. Zach holds a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Goucher College.

Senior Advisor of Industrial Innovation, WRI United States

Angela Anderson is the Director of Industrial Innovation and Carbon Removal in the Climate Program. She leads WRI's growing portfolio of work in industrial decarbonization and carbon removal and aims to change narratives around “hard-to-abate” sectors and promote the natural and technological interventions required to achieve net-zero targets. Prior to joining WRI, Angela worked as a program director, coalition builder, international advocate, and campaign strategist. She led the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists for ten years; facilitated US-NGO engagement in the international climate negotiations while at US Climate Action Network and at the Pew Environmental Trust; and founded Clear the Air, a national coalition to reduce pollution from power plants. Angela holds a B.A. in political science from Colorado State University.

Vice President of Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management, GPI

Patrice Lahlum is the Vice President of the Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management program at the Great Plains Institute. The Institute, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, works with diverse stakeholders and communities across the country to transform the energy system to benefit people, the economy, and the environment. We strive to combine our unique consensus-building approach, expert knowledge and analysis, and local action to promote solutions that strengthen communities, shore up the nation’s industrial base, and enhance domestic energy independence, all while eliminating carbon emissions. Patrice oversees several initiatives, including the Carbon Capture Coalition, Industrial Innovation Initiative, Carbon Action Alliance, and the Regional Carbon Capture Deployment Initiative.

Senior Content Specialist for Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management, GPI

Kate Sullivan joined the Great Plains Institute in 2019. As Senior Content Specialist, Kate uses her analytical and design skills to provide research, writing, and logistical support across the Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management team. Prior to joining GPI, Kate worked as an Energy Counselor in the Center for Energy and Environment’s residential department, assisting homeowners with their energy needs and providing resources for efficiency upgrades. Kate earned her BA in Biology from St. Olaf College with an emphasis in Environmental Studies.

Senior Program Manager for Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management, GPI

Jill Syvrud joined the Great Plains Institute in 2017 and serves as the program manager for the Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management Program. In addition to overseeing the overall program, Jill directly supports the Industrial Innovation Initiative, a coalition advancing decarbonization solutions for the Midcontinent region’s most important industrial sectors. Jill earned a bachelor of science in biology from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and a master of science degree in science technology and environmental policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Jill’s past experience includes multiple graduate research assistantships concentrating on technology innovation and sustainable megacities, as well as a previous position as an administrative and outreach coordination intern with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.