Posted on 07/08/2011 3:08:35 PM PDT by jazusamo
FLINT, Michigan — A federal bill expected to be introduced next week would create research and development grants to build advanced batteries like the one powering the Chevy Volt.
The bill would also push for domestic production of lithium for batteries, said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who discussed the planned legislation during a stop at a Flint business on Friday.
“We don’t want to go from foreign oil dependency to foreign lithium dependency or foreign advanced battery dependency,” Stabenow said. “This is about doing it here.”
Stabenow said she plans to introduce the Battery Innovation Act this week.
The legislation likely will cost about $2 billion, according to Stabenow’s office.
The bill would create jobs in the state and also would direct the Department of Energy to develop a competition to produce an electric battery capable of traveling 500 miles on one charge, she said.
Stabenow rolled out the legislation at one local potentially beneficiary, Rogers Foam Corporation, 501 W. Kearsley St. in Flint.
Among other products, the business creates foam components of the Chevy Volt battery.
For each battery produced at GM's Brownstown Battery Pack Assembly Plant, Rogers Foam supplies 135 pieces to act as a bumper against damage.
“(This bill) will provide a much-needed shot in the arm for Michigan’s entire auto sector and the tens of thousands of people it employs,” said Matt Rogers, the chairman of the board at Rogers Foam.
The company currently has 50 workers across two shifts working on the Volt pieces. If GM boosts Volt production, Rogers said the company plans to hire new workers and add a new shift to keep up with demand.
Stabenow’s announcement was met with skepticism by Republicans.
Jahan Wilcox, a spokesman with the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Stabenow had said the federal stimulus would create 100,000 jobs in Michigan. Since its passage two years ago, Wilcox said the state has lost 70,000 jobs.
“What is your plan to actually get it through, or is it just a public relations stunt?” Wilcox said.
Stabenow said the proposal is an essential piece of Michigan’s industrial future.
“We know that we can create thousands of jobs and a great new industry by investing and partnering with universities and businesses to create new manufacturing facilities,” Stabenow said.
More Obama control — more payback for the unions and more pandering to the enviro-whacko Obama voters and contributors.
Plain and simple.
If we need more Lithium just cut off all the nutcase from their meds, then there will be plenty of Lithium.
I guess the OTHER 10 Billion in research and development grants, in a 100 other laws isn’t enough???
I thought that China had the largest deposit of lithium and rare earth metals?
Does anyone of these hacks actually know what it would take to charge a battery like that? And how about where that magic lithium battery charging juice comes from?
Something tells me they think that you buy them fully charged at the Cosco then recharge them next to your cell phone.
I’m sure Staberow’s bill will not defund the EPA. I wonder if she has any idea that we have to MINE the minerals to build batteries.
She is an idiot. Hey, good people of Michigan, FIRE her in November, 2012
She has earned it....do the right thing, and continue the leftist purge you started in 2010.
Yep, $2 Billion here and $2 Billion there is no big deal to Stabenow and Obama if union thugs are appeased.
And what to do with these very large batteries when they no longer work? So much for ‘green’.
does anyone know what millions of these batteries in landfills will do to the enviroment??
Huge finds of REMs have been found offshore in shallow mud INTERNATIONAL waters. All you need is a hydrolift and up they come!
Rare Earth Metals Abundant in Deep-Sea Mud (Major Economic ...
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2743916/posts - Cached4 Jul 2011 – Scientists had previously known that rare earth elements and yttrium are found in some kinds of deep-sea mud, but they knew little about the ...
Sea holds treasure trove of rare-earth elements :
Nature News
www.nature.com/news/2011/110703/full/news.2011.393.html3 Jul 2011 – Survey reveals wealth of important metals in ocean floor mud. Nicola Jones. sunbathing phone Rare earth elements are found in many of the ...
From 2009 — Michigan to Receive a $1.7 Billion Jumpstart
Four major manufacturers of batteries for hybrid and electric cars are investing more than $1.7 billion to build new manufacturing plants in Michigan.
The companies — A123Systems, Johnson Controls, LG Chem-Compact Power and KD Advanced Battery Group — secured the tax credits to build the facilities, which could create 6,700 jobs for a state economy that is intertwined with the fortunes of the struggling American automakers. As those companies focus on producing more fuel-efficient vehicles, Michigan is positioning itself to become the “advanced battery capital of the world,” Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Today marks a defining moment for Michigan’s future as we see a new industry begin to take root and grow new jobs,” she said.
Gov. Granholm signed legislation in January for $335 million in refundable tax credits to bring battery developers to Michigan. Last week, she boosted those incentives up to $555 million, putting Michigan in contention for up to $2 billion in federal advanced-battery development grants, according to a statement issued by the governor’s office.
http://www.costar.com/News/Article.aspx?id=B7F34F063835EBD28A47DA19E66308F9
Volt sucks.
Vote “No”
Will these Democratic Flash Mob Looters please stop looting the commonweal to snatch and grab stuff for their hoods, stuff that will be mistreated and abused because the looters didn't work for it.
And watch the kickbacks flow into Democrat coffers
I’ve read quite a few articles on electric autos and the disposal of old batteries is something the companies don’t talk about, those batteries are not small either.
I’m sure there is much info about it on the Internet but I haven’t taken the time to look it up. I have an idea it will be a big problem if and/or when electrics become popular.
They can choke on their GM cars; they can choke on their GM batteries. NEVER AGAIN
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