Murray tours Big Bend Community College’s Workforce Training Center, hosts roundtable discussion on how new clean energy investments are bringing career opportunities to communities like Moses Lake while helping tackle the climate crisis
Visit comes after Group14 Technologies recently broke ground on a new battery materials manufacturing facility in Moses Lake—with a boost from climate incentives Murray secured in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
ICYMI: Senator Murray Secures Major Transportation, Climate, and Broadband Investments in Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill — MORE HERE
***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL OF THE EVENT HERE***
Moses Lake, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited Big Bend Community College for a tour of its Workforce Training Center and held a roundtable discussion on improving workforce development and career opportunities in communities like Moses Lake so that workers have the tools they need to thrive and to secure new jobs in growing industries like clean energy manufacturing.
At the roundtable, Senator Murray spoke with Big Bend Community College President Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, Group14 Technologies CEO and Co-Founder Rick Luebbe—whose company recently broke ground on a new battery materials manufacturing facility in Moses Lake—Grant County officials, and other local leaders about how historic federal investments in clean energy and American manufacturing are bringing new opportunities to workers across Washington state—and how important workforce development opportunities like those offered at Big Bend Community College are in ensuring people have the skills and tools to secure these opportunities and thrive on the job.
“It is clear that if we want our nation to stay competitive, we need to invest in the future, and a big part of that is making sure clean technology—like batteries—are made right here. And let’s not forget—if we want our country to be competitive—that has to include our rural communities, like Moses Lake, that have so much to offer!” said Senator Murray. “That’s what the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was all about. It’s what the CHIPS and Science Act is about. It’s what the Inflation Reduction Act is about: setting our nation—including our rural communities—up for success in the global economy by investing in workers, communities, and the industries we know will shape the world for years to come.”
“And today we are seeing this work in action!” continued Senator Murray. “It’s thrilling to see these policies on workforce training, clean technology, and more, coming together at Big Bend Community College in a way that will really make a difference for people in Moses Lake for years to come. But we still have more work ahead to really live up to the promise of this moment, and as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am determined to keep up the momentum with continued investments in our workforce programs and clean energy.”
“Big Bend’s service district is poised for spectacular growth,” said Big Bend Community College President Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy. “Columbia Basin is the emerging U.S. center for the manufacturing of silicon anode battery materials because of companies like Group14. In 2022, nearly $1 billion of new private and federal investment was announced for facilities expansion in Moses Lake—including $200 million of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to catalyze critical expansion of domestic battery supply chains to support U.S. industrial competitiveness. Group14 was one of the recipients of those funds, and Big Bend Community College is a partner in developing their workforce. Collaborations like ours are what will strengthen the United States’ leadership in technologies critical to economic and national security while making us globally competitive. We are so grateful that Senator Murray joined us today!”
“To create more jobs and career opportunities in-state, Group14 is working alongside our community partners to offer career pathways for skilled jobs and support training and reskilling programs in Washington’s high-growth career sectors like clean energy in Moses Lake,” said Rick Luebbe, CEO and co-founder of Group14 Technologies. “We are committed to investing in the Moses Lake community as we build our second US Battery Active Materials factory in order to advance the production of next-generation battery technologies and build a resilient domestic battery supply chain.”
Group14 Technologies is a Washington state-based battery technology company and the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of advanced silicon battery technology. The company recently broke ground on a major new silicon battery materials manufacturing facility in Moses Lake. The project was boosted by climate incentives for battery manufacturing Senator Murray secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; Group14 Technologies received a $100 million grant through the Department of Energy’s Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing program funded by the law. The new factory, which will be operational in 2024, will bring new jobs to the area and will help strengthen our nation’s battery manufacturing capacity, a critical part of the transition to a clean energy economy.
Senator Murray was a leader in passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act—which collectively made historic investments to upgrade our nation’s infrastructure, turbocharge the clean energy economy and American manufacturing, and ensure our country stays on the cutting-edge of clean energy technology. Both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act delivered critical funding and incentives for domestic battery manufacturing and supply chains—incentives that supported Group14 Technologies as the company builds its second U.S. battery materials manufacturing facility in Moses Lake.
As Senate Appropriations Chair and as a senior member and former chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Murray has also long championed workforce development opportunities for workers across Washington state and the country—and continues to push to protect and expand on key programs in next year’s spending bill.
Senator Murray was joined for the roundtable discussion by: Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, President of Big Bend Community College; Rick Luebbe, CEO and Co-Founder of Group14 Technologies; Lisa Karstetter, Microsoft Climate Impact Fund; Dr. Susan Kane, Career Connected Learning, Apple Stem Network; Brant Mayo, Grant County Economic Development Director; Rachelle Lange, Grant County Economic Development Director for Business and Retention; Eric Robinson, Chief Operating Officer at Group14 Technologies; Grant Ray, Vice President of Global Market Strategy at Group14 Technologies; Grant County District 2 Commissioner Rob Jones; Ryan Holerhoff, Grant County Public Utility District; and Louis Szablya, Grant County Public Utility District.
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