In April 2026, the C2ES Regional Clean Economies Initiative hosted a Southeast Regional Summit on Securing the Critical Battery Materials Supply Chain. This full-day conference was the culmination of more than 18 months of research and convening work across the region, including full-day in-person events in South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia. In total, more than 250 stakeholders representing business, academia, communities, and state and local government provided input into the assessment of the near-term economic opportunity the battery supply chain offers the region. Through these events, and subsequent discussions, C2ES collaborated with these stakeholders to develop a near-term policy roadmap with recommendations at the federal and state levels, as well as for industry-led action. In June 2026, nearly two dozen local leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for these policy priorities on Capitol Hill through 25 meetings with legislative offices.
