This week's awards: ERA's Ravalli Electric Community Storage Project and East Central Community College Solar & Lighting Upgrades Project; IDP's Advanced Copper Recycling Facility, Deeply Decarbonized Cement, Glass Furnace Decarbonization Technology Stack Project
Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations
January 8, 2025
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On Wednesdays, OCED will announce the latest projects that have successfully completed award negotiations. OCED will only issue an Award Wednesday notification on weeks when an award has been finalized.
Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas
East Central Community College Solar and Lighting Upgrades Project
OCED issued a grant award to the East Central Community College (ECCC) Solar and Lighting Upgrades project, led by Path Company, committing more than $3.9 million in federal funding. The project aims to install 1 MW of solar photovoltaic and upgrade 25 facilities with energy efficient LED lighting at ECCC in Decatur, MS. The solar photovoltaic systems are expected to serve 38 facilities and are designed to meet ECCC’s peak energy demands. This project plans to upgrade roughly 3,500 existing light fixtures with energy efficient LED fixtures and lamps, improving lighting and the student learning experience while decreasing the college’s annual energy costs by approximately $170,000—funds that can be invested into the college and its students.
View the project fact sheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.
Ravalli Electric Community Storage Project
OCED issued a grant award to the Ravalli Electric Community Storage Project, led by Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative, committing more than $4.9 million in federal funding. The project plans to install a battery energy storage system at the Ravalli Electric Cooperative’s Woodside Substation, which serves Pinesdale and Victor, MT. This project would increase reliability during outages, ensuring clean backup power is available for two volunteer fire departments and a primary school.
View the project fact sheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.
Industrial Demonstrations Program
Advanced Copper Recycling Facility
OCED awarded the Advanced Copper Recycling Facility project, led by Wieland North America Recycling (Wieland), with more than $800,000 (of the total project federal cost share of up to $270 million) to begin Phase 1 activities. Wieland plans to expand its U.S. recycling capacity and capabilities through significant investments into advanced state-of-the-art copper scrap metal processing technology in Shelbyville, KY. This project would enable the recycling of a diverse mix of copper scrap and other metals, turning it into high-purity copper-derived products suitable to support multiple applications including electric vehicles and semiconductors. During Phase 1, Wieland plans to conduct planning, design, and benefits analysis, provide documentation and reports necessary for OCED to complete the National Environmental Policy Act review, and conduct initial engagements with community and labor stakeholders.
View the project fact sheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.
Deeply Decarbonized Cement
OCED awarded the Deeply Decarbonized Cement Project, led by Brimstone Commercial (Brimstone), with nearly $8.7 million (of the total project federal cost share of up to $189 million) to begin Phase 1 activities. Brimstone plans to construct a first-of a-kind commercial-scale demonstration plant that would annually produce an estimated 103,000 metric tons of decarbonized industry standard Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), supplementary cementitious materials, and smelter grade alumina, a critical mineral. The project would avoid more than 77,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year by using calcium silicate rocks and alternative industrial production methods. During Phase 1, Brimstone will complete initial conceptual and engineering studies for the project, provide documentation and reports necessary to complete the National Environmental Policy Act review, and engage community and labor stakeholders.
View the project fact sheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.
Glass Furnace Decarbonization Technology Stack Project
OCED awarded the Glass Furnace Decarbonization Technology Stack Project, led by Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc. (O-I Glass), with more than $700,000 (of the total project federal cost share of up to $56.6 million) to begin Phase 1 activities. The project plans to rebuild one furnace at the O-I Glass facility in Zanesville, OH. This project aims to reduce carbon intensity by 20-40% compared to glass produced on a baseline furnace. This rebuild would combine five cutting-edge technologies on the furnace, marking the first time that all five technologies have been implemented simultaneously. These technologies, which include improved heat recovery and fuel systems, material pre-heating, and electric conversions, would reduce waste heat, energy demands, and both direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions. The project could demonstrate the commercial feasibility and functionality of combining multiple decarbonizing technologies that could be replicated across different glass colors and container types. During Phase 1 of the project, O-I Glass will conduct preliminary engineering design along with documentation and reports necessary for OCED to complete the National Environmental Policy Act review.
View the project fact sheet and community benefits commitments summary here. Learn more about engagement opportunities here.