[magellan]

With the state recently announcing huge tax incentives for automotive battery manufacturing, 2 new plants and 2 possible plants were announced this past week, worth about $1.7 Billion in investment alone. $2 Billion in Obama's stimulus plan is expected to go toward hybrid battery mfg.

Tax credits will lead to 4 new plants in Mich. - BusinessWeek

--Milwaukee, Wis.-based Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions, a venture between Johnson Controls and French battery producer Saft, plans to open a plant in Holland southwest of Grand Rapids. It will supply batteries for Ford Motor Co.'s first production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle beginning in 2012.

--A123Systems Inc. of Watertown, Mass., plans to open a plant in the Detroit suburb of Livonia. It will supply batteries for Chrysler LLC's first-generation electric vehicle scheduled to go on sale next year.

--KD Advanced Battery Group, a venture involving Midland-based Dow Chemical Co., Kokam America Inc. of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Townsend Ventures, plans to build a plant at an unspecified location.

--Korean-based LG Chem and a Troy-based subsidiary, Compact Power Inc., plan a project at an unspecified location, though lawmakers must first pass an additional tax credit. It will supply batteries for General Motor Corp.'s Chevrolet Volt schedule to go on sale in 2010.

It's got states like Missouri and Kentucky scrambling to try and keep up (for a change).

Mo. battery maker takes plant expansion to Mich. -- chicagotribune.com
Kentucky considers upping incentives for proposed battery plant - Local - Kentucky.com

[northstar22]

Great news for Michigan! However, we still need a diverse economy. We can't rely on any one industry, especially the auto industry.

[Jwo85]

Now Michigan needs to offer tax incentives for the Food industries, Financial industries, Technology industries, Printing and Publishing industries.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

Great news for Michigan! However, we still need a diverse economy. We can't rely on any one industry, especially the auto industry.

I don't know. There are a lot of states that would just die to get these plants. Why shouldn't we? A 500 employee LI battery plant is a lot better than a big air-conditioned google data center warehouse with 30 people working in it (which North Carolina gave $200 Million to land).

Are you saying we should not go after battery mfg just to say we have a "more diverse" economy?

[Jwo85]

Originally Posted by magellan

I don't know. There are a lot of states that would just die to get these plants. Why shouldn't we? A 500 employee LI battery plant is a lot better than a big air-conditioned google data center warehouse with 30 people working in it (which North Carolina gave $200 Million to land).

Are you saying we should not go after battery mfg just to say we have a "more diverse" economy?

More like 200 jobs with salaries of $48,000/year.
Google Opens South Carolina Data Center « Data Center Knowledge

[northstar22]

Originally Posted by magellan

I don't know. There are a lot of states that would just die to get these plants. Why shouldn't we? A 500 employee LI battery plant is a lot better than a big air-conditioned google data center warehouse with 30 people working in it (which North Carolina gave $200 Million to land).

Are you saying we should not go after battery mfg just to say we have a "more diverse" economy?

NO! We should go after everything that provides jobs! We should try to pursue other industries where available, however.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Jwo85

More like 200 jobs with salaries of $48,000/year.
Google Opens South Carolina Data Center « Data Center Knowledge

No, I'm talking about the one that opened in Lenoir, NC. I hear it's nowhere near 200 people. But that's what Google always "estimates" for a data center, in order to get their $100 - $200 Million tax breaks per data center.

A battery plant not only employs the workers there, it gobbles up a lot of components manufactured at supplier plants every day, creating a lot of spinoff jobs (the upside of the manufacturing economy).

I'm not saying the state shouldn't diversify. But that's a lot easier said than done, when we still have more automotive R&D, engineering and design brain power than anywhere else on the planet.

[Driller1]

Jobs are good!! I just do not see these cars selling very well. I know I would not pay a big price for a small car. They also do not go very far with a charge.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Driller1

Jobs are good!! I just do not see these cars selling very well. I know I would not pay a big price for a small car. They also do not go very far with a charge.

These batteries will be for hybrids and plug-in electrics. The tax credit for hybrids and plug-in electrics is now $7500; more than enough to cover the extra price tag.

As far as how far they go on a charge, they go 30 - 40 miles on a single charge; more than enough for most commuting. And even then, they switch over to gas combustion after the charge runs out (so you use a mere fraction of the gas you used before). In other words, you still fill your tank with gas, but it probably lasts you at least a month or more if you're a typical driver.

Of course they won't work for everyone, but they would work for probably 75% of the U.S. population or more (10 Million cars a year).

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by magellan

These batteries will be for hybrids and plug-in electrics. The tax credit for hybrids and plug-in electrics is now $7500; more than enough to cover the extra price tag.

As far as how far they go on a charge, they go 30 - 40 miles on a single charge; more than enough for most commuting. And even then, they switch over to gas combustion after the charge runs out (so you use a mere fraction of the gas you used before). In other words, you still fill your tank with gas, but it probably lasts you at least a month or more if you're a typical driver.

Of course they won't work for everyone, but they would work for probably 75% of the U.S. population or more (10 Million cars a year).

I live 35 miles from town. Tax deductions are great, if you have something to deduct it from. Remember, most won't be paying income tax.