Levin Hails $2 Billion for Advanced Battery Funding in Economic Recovery Package
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
WASHINGTON - Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) hailed the inclusion of $2 billion in funding for grants to manufacturers of advanced battery systems and vehicle batteries that are produced in the United States in the Senate version of the American Recovery and Investment Plan.
“Right now battery manufacturers are assessing whether to produce batteries in the U.S. or other countries,” Levin said. “We cannot afford to lose to other countries the production of advanced batteries, such as the lithium ion battery that will power plug-in hybrids. Other countries are willing to offer great financial incentives to encourage this production. We must do the same, and, these grants will help ensure that American manufacturers will have the resources they need to manufacture these batteries in U.S. facilities.”