LANSING – State Representative Kate Ebli (D-Monroe) today praised the announcement that General Motors Co. will invest $43 million to manufacture lithium-ion battery packs for its new Chevrolet Volt and other extended-range electric vehicles in Brownstown Township. The move, which will create more than 100 high-tech jobs, comes on the heels of last week's announcement that Michigan will receive $1.36 billion in federal stimulus funding for the development and production of advanced batteries.
"This is great news for our workers at a time when they need it the most," said Ebli, who participated in the announcement Thursday morning. "While we're all painfully aware of the impact that the struggles of our auto industry have had on our state and our working families, today's announcement is exactly the type of investment we need to create good-paying jobs and turn our economy around. Just as Michigan put the world on wheels, we will build on our strong automotive and industrial traditions to build the next generation of automobiles."
GM's investment includes renovation and lease costs for a 160,000-square-foot facility in Brownstown Township, as well as new machinery, equipment and special tooling. Production at the plant is expected to begin late next year to support the launch of the highly anticipated Chevrolet Volt, which the company estimates will get up to 230 miles per gallon in city driving.
The new facility was made possible by a House plan supported by Ebli that expanded state tax credits for companies involved in advanced battery manufacturing to $555 million. The plan builds on Michigan's first-in-the-nation tax credits that were signed into law in January, the first of which were awarded to GM for its Brownstown facility. The ground-breaking law has already resulted in more than $2 billion in investments by five world-class advanced battery companies that will create more than 6,600 jobs in Michigan.
"With Michigan leading the way in cutting-edge auto technology, Monroe County workers will be the ones who benefit," Ebli said. "Our workers already have the skills necessary to build advanced batteries, electric cars, wind turbines and solar panels, and we need to do all we can to make Michigan a leader in these emerging fields. Attracting alternative energy and other industries to our state and fostering their success will drive Michigan's economic recovery and create even more good-paying jobs for our workers."