HOLLAND, Mich. — The Biden Administration is making a big push to promote its agenda of well-compensated jobs and clean energy with a series of events across Michigan this week.
Smack in the middle is a stop at the LG Energy Solutions facility in Holland. The plant is one of a few places in the state that builds batteries for electric vehicles.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm toured the plant and spoke at an event Tuesday.
"Some of it has to do with the price, right? Pricing of electric vehicles — the newer models, especially the ones that are more affordable — are on par with internal combustion engines. When people realize that electric vehicles are so much cheaper to own and operate in terms of not having the buy gasoline," Granholm said.
We’re now embarking on our tour. pic.twitter.com/B5U2vWAnXh
— Matt Witkos Reporter (@matt_witkos) March 26, 2024
In October 2023 the company announced a $3 billion investment to expand production to support Toyota's future electric vehicles. But months later LG Energy announced job cuts impacted 170 people.
"It's mind blowing how massive this is," Granholm said. "It's such a massive investment, which is all great because all that means is jobs — good paying jobs."
The plant also builds batteries for General Motors and other manufacturers.
Holland's plant is one of three major EV battery projects announced over the last year.
However, many people in Mecosta County pushed back against the Gotion battery plant — raising concerns about the alleged connections the company has to the Chinese Communist Party.
READ MORE: Hundreds protest new battery plant, claim link to Chinese Communist Party
"From our perspective, if you're going to, if you're going to be able to use the tax credits, it cannot be controlled by China. You can have a U.S.-owned subsidiary, no members on the board, etc. But we want to make sure that these are American companies, American subsidiaries, hiring American workers," Granholm said.
Meanwhile, Ford announced its Blue Oval battery plant in Marshall. A few months ago, however, the company announced it's scaling back from its initial plan of creating 2,500 jobs. Now, it plans to create 1,700 jobs.
READ MORE: Ford announces pause on Marshall EV battery plant
"They may have gotten a little over their skis in terms of the rate at which the uptake, but the uptake is happening. We're seeing a 30, 40, in fact, last year, it was a 50-percent increase over the previous years," Granholm said.
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