Awards will boost local economy, supercharge U.S. battery supply chains and EV market

Boston (October 19, 2022) – Today, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representatives Jim McGovern (MA-02) and Seth Moulton (MA-06), members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, applauded the Department of Energy (DOE) announcement of awards for two Massachusetts companies – 6K Inc. and Ascend Elements – totaling more than $530 million in federal dollars as part of a federal program to support innovation in battery manufacturing, recycling, and materials processing across the United States to meet demand in the expanding electric vehicle (EV) market and to strengthen domestic supply chains.

“Massachusetts ingenuity and innovation has and continues to inspire the next generation of climate solutions,” said the members of the Massachusetts delegation. “We applaud today’s announcement from the Department of Energy awarding two Massachusetts businesses, 6K Inc. and Ascend Elements, with historic federal support as they work to supercharge our nation’s clean energy future, meet the growing demand for electric vehicles, and support good-paying jobs – not only for Massachusetts workers in North Andover and Westborough, but all across the nation.”

DOE’s awards come from its Battery Materials Processing and Battery Component Manufacturing and Recycling program, which is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Specifically, 6K Inc. of North Andover will receive $50 million for a demonstration project aimed at domestically producing multiple battery chemistries using microwave plasma processing technology. Ascend Elements of Westborough will receive awards totaling $480 million to construct a manufacturing plant which will use recycled batteries as raw material and to reduce dependence on foreign material suppliers.

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