Biden in Midland, Mich., for advanced battery manufacturing facility groundbreaking event

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Biden at groundbreaking in Mich. for battery plant

MIDLAND, Mich. — Ground was broken Monday on an advanced battery manufacturing facility expected to create hundreds of jobs and, according to Vice President Joe Biden, boost a U.S. energy production “revolution.”

Biden was on hand for Monday’s ceremony in Midland, where the Dow Kokam plant will be built.

The plant will make lithium-ion battery packs for hybrid and electric vehicles, and will provide 700 to 800 “green-collar jobs” and hundreds more for construction workers.

Officials say the batteries can store up to three times more energy than the nickel metal hydride batteries currently used in most hybrids.

“This is the beginning of a revolution in the production of energy in this country,” Biden said.

Biden’s appearance at the event was part of a six-week focus on economic recovery act infrastructure projects nationwide.

The Democratic vice president, talking about the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, said he and President Barack Obama “don’t think government is the answer,” but that it can be the catalyst for an economic recovery by providing the “seed money” as it has in the case of the Dow Kokam plant.

Dow Kokam, which is a joint venture of Dow Chemical Co. and TK Advanced Battery LLC, was given a $161 million grant to be put toward the construction of the 800,000-square-foot plant.

Representatives from Midland-based Dow Chemical and Dow Kokam participated as did Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow.

Online:

Dow Chemical Co.: www.dow.com

Dow Kokam: www.dowkokam.com