US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (31st March) unveiled the American Jobs Plan, through which the US Government will invest $15bn in demonstration projects for climate research and development (R&D), including hydrogen and utility-scale energy storage.
A move that will create millions of skilled jobs and rebuild the US’ infrastructure, the President’s plan will unify and mobilise the country to meet the great challenges of our time: the climate crisis.
President Biden believes that the market-based shift toward clean energy presents enormous opportunities for the development of new markets and new industries and plans to push forward with the country’s clean energy future.
“The United States of America is the wealthiest country in the world, yet we rank 13th when it comes to the overall quality of our infrastructure,” the report reads. “After decades of disinvestment, our roads, bridges, and water systems are crumbling. Our electric grid is vulnerable to catastrophic outages. Too many lack access to affordable, high-speed Internet and to quality housing.”
“It has never been more important for us to invest in strengthening our infrastructure and competitiveness, and in creating the good-paying, union jobs of the future.”
According to a statement, plan targets 40% of the benefits of climate and clean infrastructure investments to disadvantaged communities and plans to invests in rural communities and communities impacted by the market-based transition to clean energy.
The American Jobs Plan, however, is not the first time Biden has shown his faith in hydrogen, as well as other clean fuels. Backed in February (2020), the Biden-Harris Administration said it will target low-cost hydrogen production as part of its Climate Innovation Working Group.
Read more: Biden-Harris Administration targeting low-cost hydrogen production