NORTH CAROLINA—The state received $100 million from the U.S.
Department of Energy to expand domestic production of lithium-ion batteries and
strengthen the manufacturing of strategic components within the country.
The funds are part of the U.S. government's efforts to boost
domestic industrial capacity and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains in
a sector considered strategic for the economy and national security.
The investment aims to contribute to the expansion of
battery manufacturing for use in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and
other technological applications.
The funding also seeks to support the recovery of
manufacturing capabilities that have moved outside the United States in recent
decades, while promoting the development of specialized jobs and new
opportunities for the industry.
U.S. authorities have identified lithium-ion batteries as a
key component for the energy transition and for maintaining the country's
competitiveness against other major global producers, particularly China.
With this investment, North Carolina seeks to consolidate
itself as one of the relevant points in the new production chain of batteries
and associated technologies within the United States.