• 5 MIN READ

One Year Later: Celebrating the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

It has been one year since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law. Now commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), this legislation marked the beginning of a historic run of climate, energy, and infrastructure wins, changing the US industrial landscape as we know it.  

To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has delivered over $185 billion in funding to states, tribes, territories, and local governments. The scope of this investment is traceable, with thousands of projects already announced – representing just a fraction of what’s to come.  

The rollout of such a monumental package requires coordination across agencies and input from stakeholders and subject matter experts alike. The Hydrogen, Carbon Management, Electrification, and Energy Efficiency provisions within BIL are unprecedented and will be critical to decarbonizing the range of US industries.  

Last spring, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a series of requests for information to begin unpacking exactly what implementation of the BIL will entail. The Industrial Innovation Initiative responded to those requests which related to carbon management, clean hydrogen, and industrial decarbonization more generally.  

Requests for information mark the very beginning of the implementation process. Public and private stakeholders alike have been hard at work over the last year developing and submitting applications for funding support within the BIL.  

HYDROGEN HUB HIGHLIGHTS  

Clean hydrogen has been brought into the limelight after the BIL allocated $8 billion in funding for regional clean hydrogen hubs. This funding elevated the hydrogen conversation among states from an eventual possibility to a near-term reality. This provision requires a diversity of feedstocks, geographic siting, and end uses, including for industrial applications. In requiring such diversity among hubs, the DOE is demonstrating the viability of a domestic hydrogen market at scale, while kick-starting the clean hydrogen economy, lending support across the value chain from production through to off-takers.  

More than 20 projects have announced their intention of applying for federal clean hydrogen hub funding, with the vast majority of announcements made by public-private partnerships seeking to work collaboratively across a state or region. Some states have established task forces or working groups to assess the opportunity for hydrogen within their state – if not to develop their own hub, then to plug into the burgeoning clean hydrogen economy expected to develop over the coming years.    

In September, the DOE released the Funding Announcement for this program, informing interested parties that between 6 and 10 projects will be supported, with an initial tranche of funding to the order of $6-7 billion. Concept papers were due on November 7th, and while these applications are unlikely to be made public, the momentum spurred by this application process alone is positioning the United States to become an international leader in this space. Paired with financing mechanisms like the clean hydrogen production tax credit (45V) in August’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the landscape for clean hydrogen has fundamentally transformed over the last year.  

MANAGING CARBON MOLECULES  

The BIL included eagerly awaited and foundational investments for the SCALE Act, including $310 million for Carbon Utilization; $100 million for the Carbon Capture Technology Program, Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies; $2.1 billion for Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (CIFIA); and $2.5 billion for the development of geologic storage sites. Increasing federal investment in research, development, commercial-scale demonstration, and deployment is a priority, as advancing decarbonization technologies can be a slow and capital-intensive process. To help alleviate the risk associated with investing in early commercial-scale demonstration projects, the BIL dedicated $937 million for large-scale carbon capture pilot projects; $2.54 billion for carbon capture demonstration programs; and $3.5 billion for the establishment of regional Direct Air Capture hubs.   

In August, DOE released the Funding Announcements for the $310 million Carbon Utilization Program, with seven projects selected to date. September then saw the FEED Studies Funding Announcement, providing additional information on the 20 plus projects to be funded, their connection to the larger hubs projects, and how they plan to scale carbon storage. These investments will help support regional and national transport and storage projects, developing the interconnection necessary to bring carbon management solutions to scale.   

ENHANCING THE ELECTRIC GRID  

Many clean hydrogen projects are looking to produce hydrogen through electrolysis – a process which uses electricity to separate hydrogen from water. This new source of electric demand, paired with the industrial processes seeking to decarbonize their low- and medium- temperature heat, have states taking a critical look at their grid and the energy on it.   

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes significant investments in strengthening and modernizing U.S. electricity grids with $5 billion in grants for grid hardening and weatherization, $6 billion for grid reliability and resilience RDD&D, $3 billion for the Smart Grid Investment Matching Grant Program to enhance grid flexibility, and $2.5 billion for the Transmission Facilitation Fund and the Transmission Facilitation Program. This $16.5 billion package will make significant strides toward ensuring our grids are reliable, flexible, and interconnected as energy demand reaches unprecedented levels. The DOE released a number of requests for information related to the US grid and our energy systems throughout the last year with more information about funding to come.    

ONLY THE BEGINNING  

This is just a small sampling of the energy, industry, and infrastructure programs underway as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – with more opportunities for engaging announced every day.  Keep up to date as these programs are implemented with these resources:  

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Programs | Department of Energy 

ClearPath Infrastructure Tracker | ClearPath.org 

Announced BIL Project Locations | Data to Decisions, GSA 

Or sign up for the Industrial Innovation Initiative Monthly Newsletter, where we highlight the latest on BIL implementation and industrial decarbonization efforts across the US. 

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Carbon Management Program Associate, GPI

Alana joined GPI in 2024 as a program associate on the 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.

Ankita Gangotra, Associate, WRI

Dr. Ankita Gangotra is an Associate in WRI’s US Climate Program, researching avenues to decarbonize the industrial sector, focusing on cement and steel decarbonization, environmental trade policies and international cooperation. Prior to joining WRI, Ankita was a postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Foreign Service and the Department of Physics at Georgetown University. Her research looked at the readily available technology and policy options for upgrading low-carbon cement production in the United States. Ankita has an integrated Master's in Electronics Engineering with Nanotechnology from the University of York, UK (2015) and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Auckland, New Zealand (2020). During her time in New Zealand, Ankita interned at the Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor looking into equity, diversity and inclusion policy options for New Zealand’s science, research and innovation workforce.

Carrie Dellesky, Program and Outreach Manager, Carbon Removal and Industrial Innovation, WRI

Carrie Dellesky is the Program and Outreach Manager for Carbon Removal and Industrial Innovation. She develops strategies to advance policies and practices for scaling up a suite of carbon removal approaches and decarbonizing the industrial sector. She engages allies and builds and expands partnerships to mobilize champions and enhance visibility, action and impact. She also leads communications to amplify research and thought leadership, including messaging, media relations, event planning, social media and digital strategy.

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.

Katie Lebling, Associate, WRI

Katie Lebling is an Associate in WRI's Climate Program where she works on research and analysis of technological carbon removal approaches and industrial decarbonization. Before joining WRI, she worked at The Asia Group, and interned at the Woodrow Wilson Center’s China Environment Forum and the Treasury Department’s Office of Environment and Energy. She holds a Master's degree from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Energy, Resources, and the Environment, where she spent one year of the program studying in Nanjing, China, and has a B.A. from Colby College in Biology and Chinese language.

Debbie Weyl, Deputy Director, WRI United States

Debbie Karpay Weyl is the Deputy Director for WRI U.S. She previously served as Manager for the Buildings Initiative at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. She led an expanding global partnership to accelerate building energy efficiency in cities around the world. She also contributed to program management and development, research, and knowledge exchange for urban energy efficiency and sustainability. Debbie joined WRI from CLASP, a global non-profit organization that improves the environmental and energy performance of appliances, lighting and equipment. From 2011-2016 Debbie managed and developed global programs, led research projects, and facilitated collaboration among international experts and other representatives in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining CLASP, Debbie worked at the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, where she was a contractor supporting building efficiency and other energy efficiency programs in the United States. Debbie holds a Master of Science in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a B.A. in Politics (Political Economy and International Relations) from Princeton University.

Angela Anderson, Director of Industrial Innovation and Carbon Removal, 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.

Patrice Lahlum, Vice President of Carbon Management, GPI

Patrice Lahlum is the vice president of the 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.

Kate Sullivan, Senior Program Coordinator, Carbon Management, GPI

Kate Sullivan joined the Great Plains Institute in 2019. As Senior rogram Coordinator, Kate uses her analytical and design skills to provide research, writing, and logistical support across the 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.

David Soll, Industrial Decarbonization Manager, GPI

David Soll joined the Great Plains Institute in 2023 and serves as Industrial Decarbonization Manager. He oversees the Industrial Innovation Initiative, a coalition advancing decarbonization solutions for the Midcontinent region’s most important industrial sectors. Prior to joining GPI, he taught history and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he focused on urban infrastructure and energy conservation. David earned a Master’s in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in history from Brandeis University.

Jill Syvrud, Senior Program Manager, Carbon Management, GPI

Jill Syvrud joined the Great Plains Institute in 2017 and serves as the program manager for the 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 along and a previous position as an administrative and outreach coordination intern with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.