On Feb. 24, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE, Washington, D.C., U.S.) released a comprehensive plan to ensure security and increase the United States’ energy independence. The report, “America’s Strategy to Secure the Supply Chain for a Robust Clean Energy Transition,” lays out dozens of critical strategies to build a secure, resilient and diverse domestic energy sector industrial base that will establish the United States’ role as a global leader in clean energy manufacturing and innovation. It is accompanied by 13 several issue-specific deep-dive assessments across the energy sector —ranging from solar energy to semiconductors to cybersecurity — in response to the current administration’s Executive Order 14017, America’s Supply Chains.

Within this deep dive, amongst other topics, the report also examines the following U.S. wind industry supply chain segments: components, sub-components, processed materials, raw materials, wind industry recycling, digital products and workforce, for both land-based and offshore wind. Composite materials use and wind blade recycling are identified (see Fig. 5 schematic, p. 16 of full report), and domestic developments that need to be considered in these areas.

As the Federal government begins to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $62 billion in energy sector funding, DOE’s report summarizes how the U.S. can capture the economic opportunity inherent in the energy sector transition and build a world-class U.S. energy manufacturing base and workforce.

“Taking bold action to invest in our supply chains means America will reap the tremendous opportunities that tackling climate change presents to kickstart domestic manufacturing and help secure our national, economic, and energy security,” says U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The strength of a nation relies on resilient and reliable critical supply chains across sectors, and DOE’s report provides the key strategies and recommendations for Congress and the dederal government to act now to help deliver more jobs and a stronger, cleaner future.”

Demand for clean energy technologies such as wind turbines and batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) has increased significantly as technology costs have plummeted over the last decade. The global clean energy market is expected to grow exponentially — reaching $23 trillion at a minimum by 2030.

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