California is a global leader in clean energy and economic innovation. We’ve proven that a strong economy and a clean environment go hand in hand, but there’s a critical sector we’ve left behind: the facilities that produce many of our everyday goods- from glassware to paper to food products- rely on decades old technologies that are inefficient and polluting. Modernizing the Central Valley’s manufacturing sector is a massive opportunity for economic growth and skilled job creation, and it can also help improve air quality and protect our health.
The Central Valley has seen the direct cost of inaction. Gallo Glass in Modesto, the largest glass container plant in the U.S., had plans to build a hybrid electric furnace to melt glass, but then had its federal funding canceled. This project would have created more than 100 new high-skilled jobs, while also reducing the company’s environmental footprint by over 40%. The cancellation of this project underscores a critical need for state-level investment to ensure these types of projects move forward.
The good news is the solutions are ready. Here in Stanislaus County, a large industrial laundry is installing an industrial heat pump with support from the state’s INDIGO grant program, proving that technology upgrades can cut pollution, reduce operating costs, and create jobs all at once…