Federal grants awarded by the Biden administration on 14 Sep 2022 to build and expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles in 12 states. A total of 20 companies nationwide are getting money for projects to extract and process lithium, graphite, nickel and other battery materials, manufacture battery components and strengthen U.S. supply of critical minerals.

Grants awarded to 2 Nevada companies specializing in mineral processing and extraction. The American Battery Technology Company, plans to use the funding to construct a large-scale facility in Tonopah that would demonstrate a novel process for manufacturing battery grade lithium from unconventional landscapes. The company said the facility will show that their technique has a “low-cost and low-environmental impact process for manufacturing lithium products.” The second company that will receive funding is a project in Fernley by Lilac Solutions, which plans to demonstrate a new extraction technique that could make it more commercially viable to pull lithium from domestic underground deposits of brine water and ore.

Federal grant that will be provided to Minnesota-based Talon Metals Corp for setting up a minerals processing facility in central North Dakota as part of a federal effort to expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and the power grid. Talon Metals Corp will build the facility in Mercer County to process nickel and other minerals for batteries from raw ore mined in Minnesota. It will invest $318 million of its own money in the project, which Gov. Doug Burgum said will create 150 jobs.

Federal grants secured by Louisiana from the 2021 Infrastructure Act to boost lithium-ion battery related production at the Syrah Technologies facility in Vidalia and the Koura facility in St. Gabriel that will elevate the state's footprint in the electric vehicle supply chain as well as other consumer electronics. The two companies will provide an additional $225 million in Vidalia and $307 million in St. Gabriel for a total investment of nearly $1 billion and a combined 300 new jobs. "It's a big, big deal," Republican Louisiana U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said in an interview with USA Today Network. "We've got to create an economy that positions Louisiana for the next three decades.

Federal grant that ICL Group will receive to help pay for a 120,000-square-foot facility at the company’s existing campus at Germania and Primm streets near Interstate 55. The plant will manufacture material for the lithium battery industry and be the first large-scale plant of its type in the country. The first of two lines, producing lithium iron phosphate cathode active material, is expected to be completed by 2024, with the second in 2025. About 165 professional and union jobs will be added, the company said. “This is yet another huge win for St. Louis and our advanced manufacturing sector,” said Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis Inc., which promotes regional economic development.

Federal grant that Augusta based Solvay Specialty Polymers will receive to build a companion facility to produce battery components for electric vehicles. The proposed new plant could bring as many as 500 construction jobs and 100 manufacturing jobs to the Augusta area. The factory is expected to manufacture electric battery-grade binders and separator coatings, which are crucial components for lithium-ion batteries that power EVs.

Federal grant that New York-based Anovion will receive for building a factory in Colbert County, north Alabama. The plant will process an estimated 35,000 tons a year of new synthetic graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The U.S.-owned and operated manufacturing plant in North Alabama will be the first of its size in North America. Anovion, in a news release, said the plant will be “creating hundreds of high-quality clean energy jobs in communities previously impacted by offshoring over the years.”

Federal grant awarded to 2 North Carolina companies to help North Carolina expand its manufacturing footprint. One of the companies will be set up in Kings Mountain. The other in the Piedmont Region. Albemarle’s project’s infrastructure and associated jobs will help create a cornerstone of the U.S.-based lithium battery supply chain and provide critical support for the electric vehicle market. The 200+ full-time highly skilled jobs in mineral processing will be located in Kings Mountain, supported by a dedicated mineral processing operator training program at Cleveland Community College through a $5M grant, a minerals lab research program at Virginia Tech through a $1.5M grant, and a minerals pilot plant and engineering training program at North Carolina State University’s Asheville Minerals Research Lab through a $1.5M grant. Applied Materials anticipates hiring ~90 full-time employees and ~350-400 contingent workers including construction-related jobs.

Federal grant awarded to Cirba Solutions in Lancaster, Ohio to expand its new lithium-ion battery recycling factory. “This announcement is another example of how the bipartisan infrastructure law continues to pay dividends for Ohio," Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said. "This funding will help bolster domestic battery component manufacturing, materials processing, and recycling to support the growing EV market and energy storage demand,” said Portman. “Thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and this new funding, Ohio will continue to be a leader in reshoring America’s battery production and manufacturing.”