Lawmakers Discuss Impact of Recovery Act and Job Creation at Facility
WATERTOWN- Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of twin climate and energy panels in the U.S. House of Representatives, today welcomed Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to A123 Systems Inc., a lithium ion battery developer and manufacturer headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, A123 President and CEO David Vieau and Rep. Markey alongside a display of advanced battery technologies
“I am honored to welcome Speaker Pelosi to the 7th District to highlight how the Recovery Act is putting people back to work in the short term, and creating whole new industries like the advanced battery sector that will keep clean energy jobs in Massachusetts for the long term,” said Markey.
“A123 is a great example of how Recovery Act funding is helping American companies scale up the next generation of clean energy technologies and capture the jobs that come with them. And once we sign into law comprehensive clean energy legislation, we will see similar success stories sprouting up across the Bay State and beyond.”
“Chairman Markey is a true visionary of our time and a passionate voice on behalf of our future,” said Speaker Pelosi. “Through the hard work, dedication, and advocacy of Chairman Markey and others, A123 is making the vision of the Recovery Act a reality for local workers and for our economy.”
Rep. Markey and Speaker Pelosi toured A123’s facility and laboratory with David Vieau, the President and CEO of A123 Systems. Rep. Markey and Speaker Pelosi discussed the impact the Recovery Act has had on creating clean energy jobs at A123 Systems and across Massachusetts.
The company has received over $250 million in Recovery Act funding to build manufacturing facilities and continue the development of the battery technologies that will power the coming generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles and all-electric automobiles.
Over the past nine months, the company has added 135 employees and is poised to add 1,000 by the end of next year and a total of 3,000 by the end of 2012. More than 250 of these new clean energy jobs will be here in Massachusetts.
Highlighting how Recovery Act support is benefitting many companies up and down the supply chain, Pelosi and Markey were joined at the event by representatives from electronic components manufacturer Arrow Electronics of Wilmington, metal battery pack enclosure maker Vortex Metals of Peabody, and Arnold Industries of Canton which makes the nuts and bolts and fasteners used by A123.
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