Association to Congress: Aluminum Makes American Infrastructure
Recycling, Electric Grid Modernization and Other Priorities Essential to 21st Century Infrastructure Investment
- Fund and support recycling: The association recommends that Congress establish and fund a recycling infrastructure program like models established in the RECOVER Act as part of a broader infrastructure package. While the U.S. aluminum industry recovers and recycles more metal today than ever before, each year hundreds of millions of dollars worth of aluminum still ends up in landfills.
- Modernize the electric grid and electric vehicle infrastructure: Aluminum is the most widely used material in the electric transmission grid today. The nation’s aging patchwork system of power generating plants, transmission and distribution lines and substations will need extensive upgrades to meet the growing demands for sustainably produced electricity. The association also supports programs to boost electric vehicle charging stations nationwide.
- Invest in public transportation building construction: Aluminum’s durability, corrosion resistance and high strength-to-weight ratio make it an extremely attractive material for public building projects. Congress should create a new Airport and Airway Investment Program focused on modernization projects that enhance airport and airspace capacity while also investing in public transit facilities.
- Ensure that new bridges are built to last: New developments in aluminum alloys allow for reduced maintenance and a greater service lifespan for a lower cost over the entire life cycle of a bridge. We urge Congress to encourage states to consider a bridge’s full life cycle cost in their procurement processes to ensure that new bridge projects are designed for a modern transportation system.
- Increase maximum truck weight limits: Manufacturers can better contribute to the economy when goods and services flow efficiently through the nation’s transportation network, easing congestion while maintaining high safety standards. We urge Congress to allow states to increase truck weight limits on Interstate System highways within their borders to 91,000 pounds as long as those trucks are equipped with an additional sixth axle.
- Promote a resilient domestic supply chain of aluminum: The U.S. government recognizes aluminum among a handful of materials critical to U.S. economic and national security. To that end, Congress and the administration should adopt a coordinated federal strategy that would support innovation and invest in the long-term stability of primary aluminum production, fund the deployment of technology to increase U.S. production of high purity aluminum and facilitate crucial supply chain partnerships. This might include grants or forgivable loans for capital investment in next generation, low carbon aluminum production.
Matt Meenan
mmeenan@aluminum.org
703-358-2977