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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

MI companies get clean energy grants through Inflation Reduction Act

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Tuesday, October 8, 2024   

Four Michigan companies have received $355 million in federal grant funds, expected to create thousands of jobs in the high-tech, clean energy sector.

A new report found at least 58 new Michigan projects have been created since the passage of President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Michigan is now among the top four states for manufacturing in wind and solar power, batteries, and electric vehicles.

Annick Anctil, associate professor of engineering at Michigan State University, said the state is well-positioned to become an industry leader.

"It's put Michigan in a really good position to be the future of electric vehicle manufacturing," Anctil asserted. "I think it's making sure there's a transition from combustion vehicle to electric vehicle."

The grant awards went to NanoGraf, a maker of EV battery materials in Flint; Revex Technologies, which processes metal-bearing waste streams in Marquette; Mitrachem, which develops lithium iron phosphates in Muskegon; and Cabot Corporation, which produces energy storage materials in Van Buren Township.

The report said the new projects have spurred at least $25 billion in investment and created almost 22,000 clean energy jobs, putting Michigan in the driver's seat of a "clean energy boom." Anctil noted grant applications were evaluated on, among other factors, environmental impact, fair wages and benefits, skill development and the protection of union rights.

"If their vision is that we don't want automobile manufacturers to go away and lose all those manufacturing jobs, I think there's a good chance that there's going to be support -- both at the federal, but also at the state level -- for supporting anything that has to do with electric vehicles," Anctil projected.

Anctil pointed out Michigan's long history as a leader in auto manufacturing makes the production of EVs and their components the logical next step in the state's economic growth.

"Michigan is not giving up the combustion vehicle era but decided to become a leader in what is going to be the next phase of transportation," Anctil added. "Michigan is doing a lot, in terms of positioning themselves as the manufacturing hub for batteries and electric vehicles."


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