U.S. government invests $63 million to advance battery recycling and smart manufacturing
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $63 million to advance battery recycling and smart manufacturing in America. The program is designed to help state and local governments to increase battery recycling and modernize American manufacturing by making cutting edge technologies easier to implement for small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs). The program will be administered by the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC).
According to the agency, $41 million will be used to implement new recycling programs and battery collection points throughout the country. The remaining $22 million will be used to help SMMs implement smart manufacturing improvements through technical assistance, training, facility assessments, apprenticeships, and direct financial assistance.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said, "America’s revolutionary clean energy future requires a modernized manufacturing sector, and the Biden-Harris Administration is helping us get there. The funding announced today will equip small- and medium-sized manufacturers with cutting edge technologies to improve operations efficiency and expand battery recycling, removing barriers to advancement and bolstering the nation’s competitive standing.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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