A 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E charges at an electric vehicle charging station in London, Ohio, on March 8. (Joshua A. Bickel – File / AP)
By The Associated Press September 20, 2024 at 2:00am
The Biden administration is awarding over $3 billion to U.S. companies to boost domestic production of advanced batteries and other materials used for electric vehicles.
The grants will fund a total of 25 projects in 14 states.
The grants — announced Friday — mark the second round of EV battery funding under the bipartisan infrastructure law approved in 2021. An earlier round allocated $1.8 billion for 14 projects that are ongoing. The totals are down from amounts officials announced in October 2022 and reflect a number of projects that were withdrawn or rejected by U.S. officials during sometimes lengthy negotiations.
The money is part of a larger effort by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to boost production and sales of electric vehicles. Companies receiving awards process lithium, graphite or other battery materials, or manufacture components used in EV batteries.
“Today’s awards move us closer to achieving the administration’s goal of building an end-to-end supply chain for batteries and critical minerals in America,” White House economic adviser Lael Brainard said.
The Biden-Harris administration is “committed to making batteries in the United States that are going to be vital for powering our grid, our homes and businesses and America’s iconic auto industry,” Brainard told reporters Thursday during a White House call.
The awards announced Friday bring to nearly $35 billion total U.S. investments to bolster domestic critical minerals and battery supply chains, Brainard said, citing projects from major lithium mines in Nevada and North Carolina to battery factories in Michigan and Ohio to production of rare earth elements and magnets in California and Texas.
“We’re using every tool at our disposal, from grants and loans to allocated tax credits,” she said.
“We’re committed to making batteries in the United States of America,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
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