Cantwell Presses DOE Secretary on Top WA Priorities: Clean Energy & Hanford Cleanup
Following release of Biden’s FY24 budget, Cantwell advocates for further investments in green hydrogen & fusion power: “That's exactly what my state wants to see”; Hanford cleanup expected to last until 2078: “What we could do to help accelerate the process?”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, questioned Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on how major recent federal investments in clean energy through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the CHIPS & Science Act, and President Joe Biden’s proposed 2024 fiscal year budget will help Washington state’s companies and communities advance clean energy programs that will reduce carbon pollution and help fight climate change.
“We are cementing America's place as a trailblazer in the green, clean energy economy, and for the future, in our fight against the climate crisis,” said Sen. Cantwell.
During the hearing, Cantwell asked Sec. Granholm whether hydrogen produced in Washington state using emissions-free power from the Bonneville Power Administration will fully qualify for a tax incentive established by the IRA.
“The IRA's hydrogen production tax credit -- I wanted to ask you about this,” Sen. Cantwell said. “When we would see the implementation? And would you commit to working with us on implementing solutions?”
In Sec. Granholm’s response, she cited a new federal competitive grant program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law called H2Hubs that would establish between six and ten regional clean hydrogen hubs across the United States. With Sen. Cantwell’s support, a delegation of stakeholders is competing for H2Hubs funding to build a multi-billion dollar hydrogen hub in the Pacific Northwest.
“Treasury is churning out guidance as fast as they as they can. And this is a priority we have, especially because we have hydrogen hub selections to [make],” Sec. Granholm said. “They know that this is a high priority.”
Sen. Cantwell additionally questioned Sec. Granholm on the administration’s plans to invest further resources into fusion development -- which is a growing industry in the State of Washington – and whether fusion companies would be eligible for a $10 billion clean energy manufacturing tax credit program established by the IRA.
“Would you agree that the clean energy of fusion, which is 100% carbon-free would be eligible for those tax credits? In addition, Washington state fusion companies would benefit from a milestone based development program similar to the one used to accelerate development of commercial space launch industry,” Sen. Cantwell said. “DOE stood up this milestone program last year and requested proposals. I'm told that it's way over subscribed. And so I'm pleased to see that the budget request that you have increases the Fusion Milestone Development Program. What are the administration's plans to further expand this program?”
Sec. Granholm responded that the current level of federal support amounts to a “record amount of funding for fusion.”
“It is a signal, obviously, now that our National Ignition Facility has achieved ignition, that it can be done,” Sec. Granholm continued. “So I hope that we can continue, and thank you for the support in CHIPS & Science -- the authorization very important, that allows us to continue to take steps in this budget as down payment to get to that full authorized amount. Fusion, obviously, is a hugely important piece of that going into the future.”
Sen. Cantwell also pressed Sec. Granholm on the DOE’s proposed timeline and budget to fully complete the cleanup of the Hanford Site in Benton County, which the department released in a 2022 report. President Biden’s proposed FY24 budget requests over $2.8 billion for the Hanford site, which is $159 million more than the current spending level but falls short of the estimated $3.7 billion needed to meet the Tri-Party Agreement milestones.
“You did a report that showed that it will cost between $300 and $640 billion to complete Hanford cleanup with an end date of 2078. This year's budget is at $2.8 [billion]. Seems like a lot, but it's not really when you think about it -- that's only a couple of percent of the remaining cleanup costs. We don't want anybody coming with a proposal to do it on the cheap, but I would like to hear from you any ideas on what we could do to help accelerate the process of cleanup,” Sen. Cantwell said.
Sec. Granholm responded: “We want to do it right.”
“We want to do it in partnership with the community. And your leadership, and the leadership of Senator (Patty) Murray, have been tremendous in ensuring that we continue to increase the investment. It is not a cheap prospect, as you know. And so that effort to continuously invest, but do it efficiently, is totally what the folks at Hanford and our Environmental Management Office are all about,” Sec. Granholm continued.
In August, Sen. Cantwell joined Sec. Granholm for the DOE leader’s first-ever tour of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Wash., to observe firsthand the pioneering research and development underway at the lab that will help lead the United States into the next generation of innovation. PNNL is very likely to receive additional funding under the Cantwell-led CHIPS & Science Act, which authorized a $17 billion increase for National Laboratory funding.
Video of today’s hearing can be viewed HERE; audio HERE; and a transcript HERE.
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