US Energy: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $74 Million To Advance Domestic Battery Recycling And Reuse, Strengthen Nation’s Battery Supply Chain

The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), today announced nearly $74 million in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 10 projects to advance technologies and processes for electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling and reuse. Since President Biden took office, more than 1.2 million EVs have been sold in America—more than triple the number of EVs on the road before he took office—and the rate of EV adoption continues to grow at a rapid pace. With demand for critical battery minerals, such as lithium and graphite, projected to increase by as much as 4,000% in the coming decades, this latest round of funding supports the recycling and reuse segment of the domestic battery supply chain. This will help accelerate battery production in America, mitigate battery supply chain disruptions and create good-paying jobs. Today’s announcement builds on $2.8 billion through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for domestic battery processing and component manufacturing and supports President Biden’s goal to have electric vehicles make up half of all vehicles sales in America by 2030.

“Recycling advanced batteries presents an enormous opportunity for America to support the creation of a secure and resilient domestic battery supply chain to reach our clean energy and transportation future,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The historic investments of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are making it possible for cross-sector collaboration that will fuel America’s technological breakthroughs and eliminate our overreliance on other nations to meet our clean energy goals.”

“Michigan is a global leader in automotive innovation and developing advanced technologies, thanks in part to work being done at institutions like Michigan Tech,” said Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports. “This federal investment will help give Michigan Tech more resources to develop the technologies needed to recycle and reuse electric vehicle batteries and their materials – which will be absolutely critical to strengthening electric vehicle supply chains nationwide and the future of our automotive sector in Michigan.”

“I’ve been a steadfast advocate for Nevada’s booming clean-energy industry, including our cutting-edge companies engaged in manufacturing and recycling batteries,” said U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV). “I’m pleased that these grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I supported continue to come to the Silver State to support our innovative businesses and create jobs.”

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Biden-Harris Administration is investing nearly $10 million in funding to recycle batteries and create jobs right here in Nevada,” said U.S. Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04). “This investment ensures that we are able to provide for the future demand of batteries, ensure a domestic supply chain of critical minerals and strengthen our national security. As a member of the Congressional Critical Minerals Caucus and a proud supporter of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I will continue to work with the Administration to make critical investments in Nevada and across the nation to advance a clean energy future.”

“As we tackle the climate crisis and expedite the transition to electric vehicles, it is imperative that we strengthen the domestic battery supply chain and improve battery recycling,” said U.S. Representative Michael Levin (CA-49). “I am thrilled to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivering investments for a local business on the cutting edge of this important technology, and I look forward to seeing Smartville continue to grow and thrive.”

Advanced batteries are vital to the entire clean energy economy, but America currently does not produce enough of the critical minerals and battery materials needed to power clean energy technologies. If unaddressed, the lack of domestic mining, processing, and recycling capacity will hinder clean energy and transportation development and adoption, leaving the nation dependent on unreliable foreign supply chains. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to using a whole-of-government approach to securing a reliable and sustainable supply chain to improve America’s energy independence, strengthen national security, and lower costs for working families.

Projects funded by today’s announcement will lead to second-use scale-up demonstrations that integrate end-of-life EV batteries into secondary applications. This includes stationary energy storage systems and projects that focus on advanced materials separation, scale-up, and reintegration of lithium-ion battery materials. Responsible and sustainable end-of-life recycling and reuse will strengthen domestic battery manufacturing and allow the nation to meet the increasing demand for EVs through American made battery components. Objectives for projects included in this funding opportunity align with provisions in the President’s Inflation Reduction Act, and Defense Production Act to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign materials, supercharge domestic manufacturing and create good-paying clean energy jobs. Leveraged with recipient cost share, this funding will help to provide more than $126 million for America’s clean energy future.