NEMWI Co-Hosts Briefing on Sustainable Manufacturing
With AMCC and CREC
The Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMWI), the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC), and the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) partnered to host a briefing on June 23 on Sustainable Manufacturing: What is it and why is it important? The briefing explored sustainable development, discussing what the topic means in different regions and the importance of manufacturing as a cornerstone of America’s economy and security.
After an introduction by Matt Bogoshian, Executive Director of the AMCC, a panel of experts discussed what sustainable manufacturing is and why it is so important in the nation's current manufacturing climate. The panel included: Pete Langlois, Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Program Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy; Matt Bogoshian, Executive Director of the AMCC and former U.S. EPA Senior Policy Counsel; and Kimberly Gibson, Ecosystem Director at America Makes.
The panel also addressed several important sustainable manufacturing issues, including the Department of Energy’s areas of opportunity and concern (efficiency gains, clean energy technology, and workforce development), the national security implications of importing essential technologies, and the role of 3D printing in the manufacturing of tomorrow.
The briefing also featured a panel of regional experts discussing perspectives from across their respective regions. The panel included: Kody Powell, Director of the Intermountain Industrial Assessment Center; Jennifer States, VP of Projects and Strategyat Washington Maritime Blue; and Michele Ureste, Executive Director of Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan. The panel's presentations addressed important regional issues, including an analysis of new opportunities for the ongoing sustainable manufacturing transition and a new sustainable grid by Mr. Powell, a discussion of decarbonizing in the maritime fuel industry and collaboration to accelerate uptake of sustainable technologies in these industries by Ms. States, and economic development, talent acquisition, and training/certification programs by Ms. Ureste.
House Appropriations Committee Begins Moving Bills Forward
The House Appropriations Committee is moving into full gear in marking up the FY 2023 appropriations bills. This week, the full Committee is set to consider a handful of bills, including the FY 2023 Energy and Water Development bill and the FY 2023 Interior and Environment bill. After they move through the Committee, it is likely the House will consider them on the floor shortly after the Fourth of July recess.
Key highlights of these bills include:
Energy and Water Development
$3 million for the Great Lakes Resiliency Study;
$47.88 million for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam project construction;
$14.33 million for the operation of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Dispersal Barriers;
$2.318 billion for Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) projects; and
Language strongly encouraging the U.S. Army Corps to provide Congress with a plan to provide the necessary authorizations and funding to complete the construction of a new Poe-sized lock at the Soo Locks to address continued increased costs.
Interior and Environment
$1.9 billion for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
$1.6 billion for the U.S. Geological Survey;
$679.9 million for EPA Geographic Programs, with $368 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative;
$126 million in funding for EPA scientific and regulatory work on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) needed to establish drinking water and cleanup standards;
$2.88 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds;
$131 million for Brownfields cleanups;
$301 million for EPA Environmental Justice activities; and
$900 million for the Land and Wildlife Conservation Fund (LWCF).
NEMWI will continue to monitor and provide additional analysis as the Appropriations cycle continues to move forward.
Illinois Unveils New Name for Invasive Carp
The state of Illinois unveiled “Copi” as the new name for invasive Asian carp last week. Invasive Asian carp, which are made up of four different species (silver, big head, black, and grass carp), have wreaked havoc among America’s river communities. Invasive carp outcompete native species for food, while also posing a significant risk to boaters, as invasive silver carp are easily startled by boat motors and can leap out of the water and severely injure humans.
The new name and brand are designed to address public misconceptions about this delicious top-feeding fish and to incentivize efforts to reduce the fish in American waterways. Copi (choosecopi.com) are mild, clean-tasting fish with heart-healthy omega-3s and very low levels of mercury. Increased consumption will help to stop them from decimating other fish populations in the Great Lakes and restore an ecological balance to waterways downstream. Illinois officials will apply to formally change the name with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of the year.
There currently are a host of activities in place to prevent the spread of invasive carp into the Great Lakes, including building and maintaining barriers at potential entry points to the basin. However, many experts agree that it is important to create a market for these fish to reduce their numbers in the Mississippi River to better protect the Great Lakes.
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