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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today announced Cabot Corporation will receive $50 million from the Department of Energy (DOE) to build the first commercial-scale facility in the U.S. to produce critical components for lithium-ion batteries in Van Buren Township. The grant was awarded under the DOE’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing funding opportunity as part of a $355 total million investment in battery manufacturing in Michigan. 

“Our state is driving the next generation of auto innovation and technology, and there’s no better place for this plant than here in Southeast Michigan. To keep America a global leader in EVs and manufacturing, we must ensure electric vehicles, their batteries, all their components, and their infrastructure are built here at home,” Dingell said. “This investment will strengthen our domestic battery supply chain, create good paying union jobs, support Michigan’s auto leadership, and advance our transition to a clean-energy future.”

“We are grateful for the Department of Energy’s support in selecting Cabot Corporation for this significant grant, which underscores the importance of building a strong domestic supply chain for critical battery materials in the U.S. With the strong support of Congresswoman Dingell and other congressional leaders, we are confident this project will contribute meaningfully to the future of clean energy and drive sustainable innovation in Michigan and the U.S.,” said Martin O’Neill, Cabot Corporation, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer. “This funding accelerates our efforts to establish the first U.S. commercial-scale production facility of battery-grade carbon nanotubes and conductive additive dispersions located here in Michigan. We are excited about the opportunities this project brings to the state, not only in terms of job creation and local economic growth, but also in advancing the clean energy transition.”

Cabot Corporation will build and operate a plant capable of producing an initial ~1,000 tons per year of battery-grade carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and up to 12,000 tons per year of conductive additive (CA) dispersions at a commercial scale to support the domestic lithium-ion battery supply chain. Conductive additives, including CNTs, are indispensable ingredients in battery electrodes, connecting active materials within a conductive matrix. Without conductive additives, lithium-ion batteries do not work. Cabot’s plant will be the first production-scale facility to manufacture and supply battery-grade CNTs and CA dispersions in the U.S., expanding U.S. capabilities in advanced battery manufacturing, reducing reliance on imports, and strengthening national security. 

The facility is expected to employ approximately 85 permanent workers and more than 250 tradespeople during construction. Cabot will work with the local government to sign a Good Neighbor Agreement and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the North American Building Trades Union (NABTU) for construction of the facility and a neutrality agreement with the International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC) for the operations of the facility. Cabot will also partner with local and regional universities, colleges, and trade schools to implement internship programs, support STEM career development, and promote training opportunities to develop a qualified and skilled domestic workforce.

Learn more about the project here.