State Toolkit for Industrial Innovation

Ensuring a globally competitive US economy, thriving livelihoods for American workers, a safe and healthy environment, and a stable climate will require states and manufacturers to lead on industrial innovation. This industry toolkit is designed to help them do just that.

Developed by the staff of the Industrial Innovation Initiative (I3), this toolkit will provide the resources and connections needed to promote industrial transformation, including:  

  • information about state industrial landscapes and facility distribution, 
  • technology and policy solutions, 
  • and how to get technical assistance from experts near you. 

The resources and targeted education in this toolkit will help users gain the context and information needed to confidently communicate industry’s role in the energy transition, identify actionable measures states can take to accelerate emissions reductions, and direct stakeholders to key technical partners and peer projects.

State-by-state

Select a state below to explore its industrial landscape. View the geographic distribution and emissions of key facilities, examine how they overlap with community demographics, and review current energy policies alongside future legislative opportunities. This information can be used to design innovative industrial policy and guide decision-making.

The Industrial Context

American industry powers the US economy, supports millions of well-paying jobs, and is a global leader in production and innovation. It manufactures cement, steel, minerals, food, and thousands of other products that make modern life possible. This includes raw materials essential to advanced technologies that are expanding our domestic energy portfolio, strengthening grid resilience, and enhancing global competitiveness.

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A Challenge and Opportunity

Given its foundational role in the economy, it is important to recognize that the industrial sector contributes nearly a third of US emissions. This includes direct emissions and those from the electricity used by industrial facilities. This share is expected to grow as electric power generation continues to shift to more modern energy sources and more efficient vehicles account for a larger portion of the transportation market. Under a “business as usual” scenario, industry is projected to be the US sector with the highest emissions by the early 2030s. The same is projected globally, as shown in the graph below from the Rhodium Group.

Source: Rhodium Climate Outlook 2024: Probabilistic Global Emissions and Energy Projections

Fortunately, many industrial innovation strategies can simultaneously benefit multiple economic, workforce, and environmental goals. For example, installing more energy-efficient technology at a plant can lower energy costs, improve workplace health and safety, and create opportunities to upskill workers. These changes can also enhance US global competitiveness by aligning with the growing international demand for lower-emissions products.

Modernizing the industrial sector will strengthen the US economy, creating thriving livelihoods for American workers, clean air and water, and a more stable climate. States can partner with companies, communities, and other stakeholders to promote a more vibrant and competitive American industrial sector.

Industrial transformation and state governments

Each state’s role will vary depending on its industrial landscape, policy priorities, and other key factors. Given the variety and complexity of industrial processes, transformation will require a diverse set of cross-cutting strategies, including:

  • Electrification and energy efficiency measures
  • Improved material and process efficiencies
  • Alternative fuels and feedstocks (including hydrogen)
  • Carbon management projects (carbon, capture, utilization, and storage)
  • Market strategies to expand demand for lower-emissions products

The good news is that momentum already exists for industrial transformation. Federal legislation, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, provided significant funding for industrial innovation through tax credits, grants, and loans. Following a change in administration, aspects of this legislation were revised to align with the current federal energy priorities, as reflected in the 2025 Budget Reconciliation process. These shifts in federal priorities underscore the critical role states can play in developing durable, tailored incentive programs that reflect their unique industrial landscape. In doing so, states can simultaneously support innovation, provide business certainty, and invest in local communities.

This toolkit is designed to help state governments and industry leaders identify the technologies, policies, and partners that can accelerate industrial transformation. Through targeted resources and educational materials, users will gain context to confidently communicate industry’s role in the energy transition, understand actionable solutions to modernize industrial operations, and identify key technical partners and resources.

Section 1: Technology solutions

The industrial sector covers a broad range of manufacturing, including many types of production processes and consumer products. Given the variety and complexity of these processes, transformation will require a diverse set of cross-cutting solutions. These toolkit resources will help states and industry leaders navigate various technology options to advance industrial innovation.

Section 2: Technical assistance overview

Not sure where to go for advice about a project? Small and medium-sized manufacturers can turn to their local Industrial Training & Assessment Centers (ITACs) for energy assessments and recommendations about facility improvements. Seeking guidance about onsite energy options? One of the 10 regional Technical Assistance Partnerships can help. Looking to speak to another company implementing emissions reductions projects? Use our Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) Industrial Demonstration Program (IDP) award sheet to find relevant projects and contact information.

Section 3: Additional resources

Industrial transformation is a wide-ranging topic that encompasses technology, policy, economics, and much more. These external resources reflect this diversity, including an industrial heat pump procurement toolkit, a podcast that provides a helpful overview of key industrial sectors, and more. We’ll continue to add resources, so be sure to visit again to see what’s new.

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i3 Monthly Newsletter — for news, strategies, and insights on industrial decarbonization.

Senior Program Coordinator - Carbon Management, GPI

Carrie Danner joined the Great Plains Institute in 2023 and serves as the operations coordinator for the Carbon Management team. In her work, she supports all projects within the program to elevate operations, specifically in the grant making and event planning spaces. 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.

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.