Jennifer Granholm visits new MSU facility expected to lead the nation in nuclear research

U.S. Secretary of Energy and former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm traveled to the state on Monday, May 2, where she highlighted Michigan as a national innovator in the future of clean energy.

Granholm made two separate stops during her Michigan visit Monday — first at Michigan State University in East Lansing, for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the school’s new Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). Then, Granholm was on to Detroit, where she traveled to Focus: HOPE, a nonprofit organization specializing in community and workforce development to overcome racism, poverty and injustice.

At MSU, Granholm spoke about the impact the new facility will have on Michigan and the country, as FRIB is expected to become the nation’s premiere center for nuclear research.

“We’re going to invest in curiosity-based research, and research that leads to cures for cancer, that leads us to be safe in a nuclear age,” Granholm said. “We’re going to invest in the future.”

Granholm saw the beginnings of the project as governor of Michigan. MSU was first chosen as the location for FRIB during her term in December 2008.

Granholm was joined at the ribbon cutting by university officials as well as local, federal and state officials including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr.; FRIB Director Thomas Glasmacher; MSU Board of Trustees Chair Diane Byrum; U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters; and U.S. Reps. Tim Walberg, Brenda Lawrence, Dan Kildee and Elissa Slotkin.

Lawmakers praised the bipartisan nature of the project, and for being completed on budget and on time.

Walberg said as the only Republican on stage, he enjoyed serving with his colleagues on the other side of the aisle and that the effort has been “easily bipartisan” over the years.

“It’s wonderful, all the business projects that will take place, all of the scientists from around the world who would come here, but more importantly, all of the students that will have practical experience,” Walberg said.

Home to the world’s most powerful heavy-ion accelerator that will produce rare isotopes never before seen on Earth, FRIB is funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, and by MSU and the State of Michigan.

According to a press release from Whitmer’s office, the state’s $94.5 million investment in FRIB is expected to generate $205 million in tax revenues and $831 million in additional gross state product through 2040.

FRIB is also expected to generate accumulated wages totaling $1.7 billion, and add $4.4 billion to the state’s economy.

Whitmer said at the event that research conducted at FRIB will put the state as the international leader in rare isotope research, beating industry leaders China and South Korea.

“The FRIB will ensure that Michigan is the epicenter of high tech research, innovation and job growth,” Whitmer said.

Following her stop in East Lansing, Granholm traveled to Detroit where she announced, on behalf of the Department of Energy, a $3.1 billion plan to make more batteries and components in America.

Also announced was a separate $60 million plan to support second-life applications for batteries once used to power electric vehicles, as well as new processes for getting recycled materials back into the battery supply chain.

Both are funded as part of the Biden administration’s $7 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strengthen the U.S. battery supply chain.

The DOE stated in a press release that the projects will support America’s energy independence, reducing the country’s reliance on competing nations, and support President Joe Biden’s goal to have electric vehicles make up half of all vehicles sales in America by 2030.

“Responsible and sustainable domestic sourcing of the critical materials used to make lithium-ion batteries — such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite — will help avoid or mitigate supply chain disruptions and accelerate battery production in America to meet this demand and support the adoption of electric vehicles,” reads a statement from the DOE.

The global lithium-ion battery market is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade. As of the end of March 2022, more than 2.5 million plug-in electric vehicles have been sold in America.

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