Securing the Critical Battery Materials Supply Chain in the Southeast United States A Roadmap from Local Investment to Global Competitiveness
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The Southeast United States stands at the threshold of a generational economic opportunity. Since 2021, more than $48 billion has flowed into an emerging “battery belt” spanning Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee—laying the foundation for a supply chain that could generate 370,000 jobs and $140 billion in economic output over the next decade.
That potential is now at risk. Recent federal policy reversals—including the premature expiration of the 30D clean vehicle tax credit and cancellation of key DOE grants and loans—have destabilized investment at a critical moment, leaving midstream suppliers without offtake certainty and downstream manufacturers without a clear demand signal. The window to establish a competitive American battery industry is narrowing.
Strong federal and state policy support can put this industry on the path to global competitiveness. With predictable policy support across the value chain, coordinated research and development, and dedicated workforce investment, the Southeast can realize the full promise of the battery belt.
