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Will Batteries Repower Michigan Manufacturing?
by Lisa Diggs
In another attempt to diversify and revitalize Michigan’s economy, Governor Granholm today signed legislation that increases tax incentives for companies that develop and manufacture advanced batteries.
The world’s increasing interest in hybrid electric cars has certainly generated a lot of publicity about battery and fuel cell development. For the transportation sector, a critical factor in Michigan, most experts agree that advanced batteries need to be lighter and faster. To that end, the Federal stimulus package includes $2 billion in advanced-battery development grants.
Granholm hopes that today's action will put Michigan in prime position to capture a big piece of that pie.
"We are committed to making Michigan the advanced-battery capital of the world and the home of the next generation of green vehicles powered by them," Granholm said. "This expansion of incentives will keep our momentum going and demonstrate that Michigan is uniquely qualified for a significant portion of the $2 billion in federal recovery money designated to build America's advanced-battery infrastructure. We are aggressively going after that funding as part of our strategy to diversify Michigan's economy and attract more high-tech jobs."
In January, Granholm signed similar legislation that was the first of its kind in the nation. It allowed for $335 million in tax credits for companies involved in the development and application of advanced battery research, engineering, and manufacturing. Today’s law adds an additional $220 million in refundable tax credits for those types of companies, for a total of $555 million in available incentives.
In January, Granholm signed similar legislation that was the first of its kind in the nation. It allowed for $335 million in tax credits for companies involved in the development and application of advanced battery research, engineering, and manufacturing. Today’s law adds an additional $220 million in refundable tax credits for those types of companies, for a total of $555 million in available incentives.
In February, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) approved the first incentives from the original legislation for Ford and General Motors for pack engineering, integration and assembly, vehicle engineering, and advanced-battery technologies. Those incentives, which included tax credits, are expected to help produce the battery for GM's much anticipated Chevy Volt.
The new bills also allow MEGA to approve up to $300 million of the total $550 million in incentives for the construction of battery-cell manufacturing facilities. As with the film incentives, capital investments like companies building new facilities are usually evidence of a potentially sustainable new industry.
In January, A123Systems, one of the world’s leading suppliers of high power lithium ion batteries, announced its plan to build new world-class manufacturing facilities in the United States, with ground to be broken first in Southeastern Michigan. Today, they were part of another significant announcement.
Chrysler announced that they have signed an agreement stating that A123Systems will supply energy storage systems for Chrysler's first-generation ENVI Range-extended Electric Vehicles and battery only Electric Vehicles.
"Government and society are calling for the introduction of a variety of advanced propulsion vehicles," said John Bozzella, Senior Vice President-External Affairs and Public Policy, Chrysler LLC. "This partnership with A123Systems signifies Chrysler's commitment to contribute to our nation's goal of reducing dependence on foreign sources of energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Chrysler's partnership with A123Systems represents a win-win-win for the American consumer, American manufacturing and the environment."
Hopefully the combination of state incentives, corporate commitments, and federal grants will mean a win-win-win for Michigan.
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