Ford has joined a collection of several major American corporations, including General Motors, Pepsi Co., Ball Corp., Rivian, and SunPower, in writing a letter to the Department of Energy’s Secretary Jennifer Granhold. They request that the American government direct funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) towards supporting the American aluminum industry in transitioning to clean practices and sustainable energy.
“Ford is committed to achieving carbon neutrality across our vehicles, operations and supply chain no later than 2050, and sourcing domestically produced, lower-carbon primary aluminum is part of a host of actions we are taking that will help us meet our ambitious sustainability goals,” said Cynthia Williams, Global Director of Sustainability, Homologation and Compliance at Ford. “The Inflation Reduction Act presents a powerful opportunity for the Department of Energy to prioritize American-made, clean sources of aluminum, which will in turn make more sustainable options available to companies like Ford.”
The letter was published online and in five major newspapers, The Albany Times-Union, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Louisville Courier-Journal, the South Carolina Post and Courier, and the Indianapolis Star. It highlights the decline of the American-made primary aluminum supply at a time when demand for the resource is high, coming from a wide range of industries. The letter outlines actions that could help bring the industry back from the edge of fading away and reduce emissions, create jobs, and increase the American aluminum supply.
“Spiking electricity prices, lack of access to low-cost renewable energy, and insufficient federal investment have pushed the remaining six primary smelters to the brink,” the letter states. “The IRA is poised to make the largest-ever investment in U.S. manufacturing, supercharging aluminum-dependent clean energy technologies. In order to meet increased aluminum demand that will affect all our industries, the U.S. must invest heavily in supply.”
In the American aluminum industry, reliance on fossil fuels makes production not only environmentally unsustainable, but prohibitively expensive as well. The rising gas prices coupled with the falling prices of renewable energy sources create a clear path forward. Assistance from the federal government in acquiring the supplies to transition to clean energy could revitalize the industry and have a positive ripple effect on other industries across the country.
“It’s going to take all of us – manufacturers, suppliers, energy providers and government – working together to build a better future that’s not just good for business, but also for people and the planet,” said Cynthia Williams.
Ford is also taking action and making investments for sustainability in other areas. If you’re interested in learning more about these updates as well, make sure you continue to read our blog here at Dunphy Ford!
