According to freep.com, after a visit at the Detroit Auto Show where she was impressed by the possibilities of an electric vehicle, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the legislation providing up to $335 million in tax credits over five years to companies developing and manufacturing advanced batteries in Michigan.
The governor came with the initiative to encourage the production of lithium-ion car batteries made in Michigan and claimed that the decision of A123 Systems to build a battery factory in southeast Michigan wouldn't have taken too long without the new tax incentives. Moreover, she added that GM was also influenced by this policy when officially announcing the construction of the Chevrolet Volt.
"The bill that I'm signing today is a bill that's really going to put Michigan in the front of not just states, we hope other countries as well, with respect to next-generation battery technology, manufacturing and assembly," said Granholm. "We're very excited about putting such an aggressive incentive in place to be able to attract the jobs that are associated with the vehicles that you see here at the auto show, she added."
The legislation was also highly welcomed by the Detroit car makers. "That battery technology is absolutely the enabler for the future of electric vehicles," Ford CEO Alan Mulally said.
With so many people losing their jobs due to the world economic downturn, the legislation may be seen as a true blessing as growing battery industry in Michigan could create more than 50,000 jobs, James Epolito, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. said.
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