近期,,包括福特、通用,、百事,、鮑爾等“財(cái)富500強(qiáng)”公司在內(nèi)的十多家企業(yè)致信美國(guó)能源部長(zhǎng)詹妮弗·格蘭霍姆,要求美國(guó)聯(lián)邦政府投資發(fā)展環(huán)保鋁產(chǎn)業(yè),。這封信表明美國(guó)環(huán)保鋁的供給日趨緊張,。隨著市場(chǎng)需求的激增,美國(guó)各大工業(yè)企業(yè)紛紛要求政府加大對(duì)這一關(guān)鍵產(chǎn)業(yè)的投資和支持力度,,預(yù)計(jì)該產(chǎn)業(yè)未來(lái)的重要性將會(huì)進(jìn)一步提升,。
這些重要企業(yè)深知,美國(guó)已經(jīng)越來(lái)越依賴(lài)外國(guó)的鋁材供給了,。而且隨著市場(chǎng)需求的增加,,以后美國(guó)市場(chǎng)上的不少鋁材很可能將來(lái)自那些沒(méi)有足夠跡象表明他們的鋁材產(chǎn)業(yè)足夠環(huán)保的國(guó)家——比如中國(guó)(占全球市場(chǎng)58%的份額)和俄羅斯(占全球市場(chǎng)5%)等。
雖然目前美國(guó)剩下了六家原鋁冶煉廠,,在全球原鋁產(chǎn)能中所占比例很小,,而且還在不斷縮水,但以前的情況其實(shí)并不是這樣的,。在2000年,,美國(guó)還是全球最大的原鋁生產(chǎn)國(guó)。但是到了2022年,,美國(guó)在全球市場(chǎng)的份額已跌至不到2%,。
福特等多家企業(yè)的公開(kāi)信指出:“作為原鋁材料的重要買(mǎi)家,我們強(qiáng)烈支持聯(lián)邦政府通過(guò)《降低通脹法案》對(duì)鋁材產(chǎn)業(yè)進(jìn)行投資,,以確保美國(guó)在這種關(guān)鍵原材料生產(chǎn)上處于領(lǐng)先地位,。目前,,美國(guó)的原鋁生產(chǎn)地位已經(jīng)岌岌可危,。雖然全球?qū)υX的需求預(yù)計(jì)在未來(lái)幾十年中還將繼續(xù)增長(zhǎng),但美國(guó)的國(guó)內(nèi)原鋁產(chǎn)量卻在持續(xù)下降,,而且面臨著徹底消失的風(fēng)險(xiǎn),。電價(jià)的飆升、低成本可再生能源的缺乏以及聯(lián)邦投資的不足,,使僅存的6家原鋁冶煉廠也到了破產(chǎn)的邊緣,。”
根據(jù)《降低通脹法案》,美國(guó)政府投入了大量資金用于國(guó)內(nèi)產(chǎn)業(yè)的環(huán)保改造和創(chuàng)造就業(yè),。但是由于美國(guó)原鋁產(chǎn)業(yè)的弱小現(xiàn)狀,,它很容易被聯(lián)邦投資忽視。不過(guò)由于全球?qū)υX(特別是未被回收的鋁材)的需求預(yù)計(jì)將以前所未有的速度增長(zhǎng),,美國(guó)的鋁產(chǎn)量也必須同步增長(zhǎng),,否則將不足以建設(shè)美國(guó)清潔能源產(chǎn)業(yè)所需的基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施,比如電動(dòng)汽車(chē),、太陽(yáng)能電池板和輸電線路等等,。如果沒(méi)有環(huán)保鋁材的供給,美國(guó)將來(lái)的清潔能源革命就只能依賴(lài)那些污染度更高的鋁材,,而這將與美國(guó)的整體減排目標(biāo)背道而馳,。
這些具有前瞻性的企業(yè)認(rèn)識(shí)到,他們的客戶(hù)需要的是更加清潔和環(huán)保的供應(yīng)鏈,,同時(shí)美國(guó)制造企業(yè)也需要更可靠的國(guó)內(nèi)鋁材供應(yīng)鏈來(lái)保障他們的產(chǎn)品生產(chǎn),。在客戶(hù)需求增長(zhǎng)的同時(shí),這些面向消費(fèi)者的企業(yè)也要跟上步伐,。美國(guó)鋁業(yè)(Alcoa)等鋁材生產(chǎn)商也嗅到了未來(lái)的風(fēng)向,,美國(guó)鋁業(yè)2022年的可持續(xù)發(fā)展報(bào)告提到了“要最大程度減少對(duì)社會(huì)和環(huán)境的影響,以降低風(fēng)險(xiǎn)和未來(lái)債務(wù)”的必要性,。換句話(huà)說(shuō),,原鋁生產(chǎn)商和那些面向消費(fèi)者的企業(yè)不僅將發(fā)展環(huán)保鋁材視為一種重要責(zé)任,還將其視為自身商業(yè)模式的核心,,乃至視為美國(guó)在全球經(jīng)濟(jì)中保持競(jìng)爭(zhēng)優(yōu)勢(shì)的核心,。
不管是環(huán)保主義者、國(guó)家安全倡導(dǎo)者,、實(shí)業(yè)家,、勞工和社會(huì)都認(rèn)識(shí)到了環(huán)保鋁產(chǎn)業(yè)的重要性,那么很顯然,,缺位的部分就是聯(lián)邦政府的投資了,。但愿美國(guó)能源部能夠意識(shí)到讓制造業(yè)崗位回流、重振美國(guó)工業(yè)和投資清潔能源產(chǎn)業(yè)的重要意義,。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
本文作者安妮·薩特是Industrious Labs的鋁業(yè)活動(dòng)總監(jiān),,該組織致力于通過(guò)重塑工業(yè)產(chǎn)業(yè)強(qiáng)化美國(guó)的清潔能源經(jīng)濟(jì)。
《財(cái)富》發(fā)表的更多必讀評(píng)論
·重返辦公室:為什么德州,、猶他州,、新澤西州等地不以減稅為由強(qiáng)制員工回辦公室坐班。
·《怪誕經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)》作者:“反對(duì)K-12教育中的數(shù)據(jù)科學(xué)毫無(wú)道理,。
·職業(yè)倦怠會(huì)攻擊大腦,,使人更難在工作中表現(xiàn)出色,。“強(qiáng)迫自己冷靜”可以幫助我們有效調(diào)整,。
·過(guò)猶不及:一些無(wú)害癌癥何以在美國(guó)被過(guò)度醫(yī)療,。
《財(cái)富》網(wǎng)站所載的評(píng)論文章僅代表作者本人觀點(diǎn),不代表《財(cái)富》的觀點(diǎn)和看法,。
譯者:樸成奎
近期,,包括福特、通用,、百事,、鮑爾等“財(cái)富500強(qiáng)”公司在內(nèi)的十多家企業(yè)致信美國(guó)能源部長(zhǎng)詹妮弗·格蘭霍姆,要求美國(guó)聯(lián)邦政府投資發(fā)展環(huán)保鋁產(chǎn)業(yè),。這封信表明美國(guó)環(huán)保鋁的供給日趨緊張,。隨著市場(chǎng)需求的激增,美國(guó)各大工業(yè)企業(yè)紛紛要求政府加大對(duì)這一關(guān)鍵產(chǎn)業(yè)的投資和支持力度,,預(yù)計(jì)該產(chǎn)業(yè)未來(lái)的重要性將會(huì)進(jìn)一步提升,。
這些重要企業(yè)深知,美國(guó)已經(jīng)越來(lái)越依賴(lài)外國(guó)的鋁材供給了,。而且隨著市場(chǎng)需求的增加,,以后美國(guó)市場(chǎng)上的不少鋁材很可能將來(lái)自那些沒(méi)有足夠跡象表明他們的鋁材產(chǎn)業(yè)足夠環(huán)保的國(guó)家——比如中國(guó)(占全球市場(chǎng)58%的份額)和俄羅斯(占全球市場(chǎng)5%)等。
雖然目前美國(guó)剩下了六家原鋁冶煉廠,,在全球原鋁產(chǎn)能中所占比例很小,,而且還在不斷縮水,但以前的情況其實(shí)并不是這樣的,。在2000年,,美國(guó)還是全球最大的原鋁生產(chǎn)國(guó)。但是到了2022年,,美國(guó)在全球市場(chǎng)的份額已跌至不到2%,。
福特等多家企業(yè)的公開(kāi)信指出:“作為原鋁材料的重要買(mǎi)家,我們強(qiáng)烈支持聯(lián)邦政府通過(guò)《降低通脹法案》對(duì)鋁材產(chǎn)業(yè)進(jìn)行投資,,以確保美國(guó)在這種關(guān)鍵原材料生產(chǎn)上處于領(lǐng)先地位,。目前,美國(guó)的原鋁生產(chǎn)地位已經(jīng)岌岌可危,。雖然全球?qū)υX的需求預(yù)計(jì)在未來(lái)幾十年中還將繼續(xù)增長(zhǎng),,但美國(guó)的國(guó)內(nèi)原鋁產(chǎn)量卻在持續(xù)下降,而且面臨著徹底消失的風(fēng)險(xiǎn),。電價(jià)的飆升,、低成本可再生能源的缺乏以及聯(lián)邦投資的不足,使僅存的6家原鋁冶煉廠也到了破產(chǎn)的邊緣,。”
根據(jù)《降低通脹法案》,美國(guó)政府投入了大量資金用于國(guó)內(nèi)產(chǎn)業(yè)的環(huán)保改造和創(chuàng)造就業(yè),。但是由于美國(guó)原鋁產(chǎn)業(yè)的弱小現(xiàn)狀,,它很容易被聯(lián)邦投資忽視。不過(guò)由于全球?qū)υX(特別是未被回收的鋁材)的需求預(yù)計(jì)將以前所未有的速度增長(zhǎng),,美國(guó)的鋁產(chǎn)量也必須同步增長(zhǎng),,否則將不足以建設(shè)美國(guó)清潔能源產(chǎn)業(yè)所需的基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施,比如電動(dòng)汽車(chē),、太陽(yáng)能電池板和輸電線路等等,。如果沒(méi)有環(huán)保鋁材的供給,美國(guó)將來(lái)的清潔能源革命就只能依賴(lài)那些污染度更高的鋁材,,而這將與美國(guó)的整體減排目標(biāo)背道而馳,。
這些具有前瞻性的企業(yè)認(rèn)識(shí)到,他們的客戶(hù)需要的是更加清潔和環(huán)保的供應(yīng)鏈,,同時(shí)美國(guó)制造企業(yè)也需要更可靠的國(guó)內(nèi)鋁材供應(yīng)鏈來(lái)保障他們的產(chǎn)品生產(chǎn),。在客戶(hù)需求增長(zhǎng)的同時(shí),這些面向消費(fèi)者的企業(yè)也要跟上步伐,。美國(guó)鋁業(yè)(Alcoa)等鋁材生產(chǎn)商也嗅到了未來(lái)的風(fēng)向,,美國(guó)鋁業(yè)2022年的可持續(xù)發(fā)展報(bào)告提到了“要最大程度減少對(duì)社會(huì)和環(huán)境的影響,以降低風(fēng)險(xiǎn)和未來(lái)債務(wù)”的必要性,。換句話(huà)說(shuō),,原鋁生產(chǎn)商和那些面向消費(fèi)者的企業(yè)不僅將發(fā)展環(huán)保鋁材視為一種重要責(zé)任,還將其視為自身商業(yè)模式的核心,,乃至視為美國(guó)在全球經(jīng)濟(jì)中保持競(jìng)爭(zhēng)優(yōu)勢(shì)的核心,。
不管是環(huán)保主義者、國(guó)家安全倡導(dǎo)者,、實(shí)業(yè)家,、勞工和社會(huì)都認(rèn)識(shí)到了環(huán)保鋁產(chǎn)業(yè)的重要性,那么很顯然,,缺位的部分就是聯(lián)邦政府的投資了,。但愿美國(guó)能源部能夠意識(shí)到讓制造業(yè)崗位回流、重振美國(guó)工業(yè)和投資清潔能源產(chǎn)業(yè)的重要意義,。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
本文作者安妮·薩特是Industrious Labs的鋁業(yè)活動(dòng)總監(jiān),,該組織致力于通過(guò)重塑工業(yè)產(chǎn)業(yè)強(qiáng)化美國(guó)的清潔能源經(jīng)濟(jì)。
《財(cái)富》發(fā)表的更多必讀評(píng)論
·重返辦公室:為什么德州,、猶他州,、新澤西州等地不以減稅為由強(qiáng)制員工回辦公室坐班。
·《怪誕經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)》作者:“反對(duì)K-12教育中的數(shù)據(jù)科學(xué)毫無(wú)道理,。
·職業(yè)倦怠會(huì)攻擊大腦,,使人更難在工作中表現(xiàn)出色,。“強(qiáng)迫自己冷靜”可以幫助我們有效調(diào)整,。
·過(guò)猶不及:一些無(wú)害癌癥何以在美國(guó)被過(guò)度醫(yī)療,。
《財(cái)富》網(wǎng)站所載的評(píng)論文章僅代表作者本人觀點(diǎn),不代表《財(cái)富》的觀點(diǎn)和看法,。
譯者:樸成奎
More than a dozen companies, including Fortune 500 companies such as Ford, GM, Pepsi, and Ball Corporation, recently wrote a letter to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, asking for federal investment in clean aluminum. This letter signals the growing urgency around a domestic clean aluminum supply. The market has spoken—and companies are asking for funding and support to save this key American industry that will only grow more important as demand is projected to spike.
These pioneering companies understand that the U.S. is becoming increasingly dependent on foreign aluminum supply, and as demand increases, supply could come from countries that show no substantive signs of cleaning up their industry, such as China (58% of the global market), and Russia (5% of the global market).
While the six remaining smelters in the U.S. currently constitute a small and shrinking percentage of global primary aluminum capacity, it wasn’t always the case. As recently as 2000, the U.S. was the largest global producer of primary aluminum. In 2022, the U.S. had less than 2% of the global market share.
“As significant buyers of primary aluminum, we strongly support federal investments via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to ensure that the United States will be a leader in producing this critical material, which is essential to America’s economic growth,” reads the letter. “Today, primary aluminum production in the United States is in crisis. While global demand for primary aluminum is forecast to grow over the coming decades, domestic primary aluminum production has continued to decline and is at risk of disappearing. 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.”
As funds from the IRA are distributed to clean up American industry and create jobs, it would be easy to dismiss aluminum as a small industry because of its current state. However, the growing global demand for primary aluminum (that has not been recycled) is projected to grow at an unprecedented rate. U.S. production must grow with it to provide the very aluminum needed to build the clean energy infrastructure the IRA supports, from electric cars to solar panels and transmission lines. Without this supply, the vital clean energy revolution ahead will be reliant on higher-carbon aluminum at a time when emissions reductions are essential.
Fortunately, these forward-thinking companies see that their customers will increasingly demand cleaner supply chains, and U.S. manufacturers will need a reliable domestic supply of aluminum for their products. Demand from customers is growing, and these consumer-facing companies are keeping pace. Aluminum producers such as Alcoa see the writing on the wall too. Its 2022 sustainability report speaks to the need to “reduce risk and future liabilities by minimizing social and environmental impacts.” In other words, consumer-facing companies and aluminum producers see sustainable aluminum as not only an aspirational responsibility but also core to their business model and America’s competitive advantage in the global economy.
When environmentalists, national security advocates, industrialists, labor, and communities agree, it’s clear that the missing piece is federal investment. Let’s hope the Department of Energy is able to see the advantage in reshoring jobs, reviving a once-strong American industry, and investing in the clean energy future.
Annie Sartor is the aluminum campaign director for Industrious Labs, an organization focused on reimagining the industrial sector as a foundational part of the U.S. clean energy economy.
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The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.