The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the allocation of $2.8 billion under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build the U.S. supply chain for batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and the electric grid. The funding will be distributed to 20 companies and will fund the building and expansion of facilities in 12 states.

In response to the funding announcement, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh:

“This funding will provide an urgently needed boost to battery manufacturing in the United States. As the transition to EVs and renewable energy continues to gain momentum, there is no reason that the U.S. should remain captive to unreliable—and often unethical—global supply chains.

“But domestic investment isn’t enough on its own. We applaud the Biden administration’s long-standing support for the workers who are going to be building the batteries and components that we will be relying on. Now, we need to hold the companies benefiting from these public investments accountable to ensure workers can exercise their right to organize and make these good, union jobs.”