Michigan Aims to Become ‘Advanced-Battery Capital of the World’

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Kentucky isn’t the only state making a concerted effort to create a hub for advanced-battery manufacturing. In Michigan, Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently announced that the Wolverine State has wooed four companies that plan to invest more than $1.7 billion to launch facilities that will manufacture lithium-ion batteries – thanks to millions of dollars in refundable tax credits offered by the state.

The four companies – Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions LLC, LG Chem-Compact Power Inc., KD Advanced Battery Group LLC and A123 Systems Inc. – hope to secure a slice of the $2 billion pie that President Obama has set aside for advanced-battery research and development as part of his stimulus package.

If approved for stimulus funding, the four companies’ proposed projects would create 6,683 new jobs in Michigan, according to Granholm’s office.

“[This announcement] marks a defining moment for Michigan’s future as we see a new industry begin to take root and grow new jobs,” Granholm said. “Thanks to the most aggressive economic strategy of any state in the country, Michigan, the global center of automotive research and development, is positioned to lessen the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and become the advanced battery capital of the world.”

http://www.expansionmanagement.com/smo/art...=20145&st=5

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think they make most batteries out in the Far East these days.

[Nagishkaw 510]

She's full of herself. We've been hearing this spew and hearing it and still we have the highest unenjoyment rate in the country.

[scandal 951]

Michigan is proud of its record of being world leader at battery?

Must be all those unemployed assembly line workers sitting around the house getting drunk and beating up the Missus.