Biden plan gives these 3 Indiana companies money to cut carbon emissions
The Biden administration awarded three Indiana companies millions of dollars to cut carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
The U.S. Department of Energy, through Biden’s Investing in America agenda, is focusing $6 billion on some of the highest carbon emitting industries throughout the country. In Indiana, the three companies receiving grant money include a recycling project, a cement plant and a food and beverage brand.
“These investments will slash emissions from these difficult-to-decarbonize sectors and ensure American businesses and American workers remain at the forefront of the global economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in a news release.
Real Alloy Recycling zero waste project
Real Alloy Recycling in Wabash will receive $67.3 million to create a zero-waste salt slag recycling facility on the back of its existing aluminum recycling facility.
Salt slag is a waste product normally headed to landfills after the aluminum recycling process. Outside of the U.S., countries have classified it as hazardous and don’t allow it to be sent to landfills.
The federal funding is meant to allow the salt slag to be recycled back into the aluminum recycling process or sent to other industries for use.
The project is estimated to be 95% less carbon intensive than current aluminum recycling practices.
Heidelberg Materials cement plant decarbonization Project
Heidelberg Materials US in Mitchell will receive up to $500 million to build a carbon capture, transport and storage system at its cement plant.
The process would capture at least 95% of the carbon dioxide and store it underground beneath the plant’s property. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has become a controversial topic as some environmental advocates say it continues U.S. reliance of fossil fuels.
Once complete, the CCS technology will divert 2 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the underground storage site.
Kraft Heinz electrification and energy storage project
Kraft Heinz’s Kendallville site will receive part of $170.9 million to upgrade, electrify and decarbonize its process heat. The grant funding is split between 10 Kraft Heinz locations across the U.S.
The project will allow for a range of technologies including heat pumps, electric heaters, electric boilers and renewable energy storage.
The overall project at the 10 sites is supposed to curb more than 300,000 metric tons of carbon emissions each year.
It’s not clear which technologies will be implemented at the Kendallville site.
Climate change is here: This is how it is affecting Indiana and what's to come
How do carbon emissions warm the plant?
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rising mostly because humans are burning fossil fuels, according to NOAA. As the concentrations of carbon rise, studies show the Earth’s average global temperatures do, too.
Carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs then radiates heat coming from the planet’s surface, creating a greenhouse effect. This effect works to keep the planet warm enough for humans, but as more carbon is released, that heating is supercharged.
Carbon is not the only greenhouse gas affecting the warming planet, but it was responsible for two-thirds of the total heating influence of all human-produced emissions in 2021, according to NOAA.
Scientists have called for a rapid decrease of carbon emissions to stop the consequences of climate change, which include melting ice, rising seas, changing weather patterns and more drought and hurricanes.
Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk
IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana companies awarded millions to combat climate change
