Re:the US climate law is fueling a factory frenzy. Here’s th...
by jonnycomputer on Wednesday August 16, 2023 @05:40PM
(#37154245)
It wasn't an easy bill to pass.
It is a climate bill. It is also about re-industrializing America, decoupling from China, securing supply chains, and national security. All of those things.
Of the top 3 battery or solar producing countries, the US isnt one of them. Longi, Chinas flagship battery company, has been doing this for 23 years while the US is just now getting around to starting a domestic plant to compete. Frankly i dont imagine it will be competitive at all, as it would also be competing with other decades old players in Japan and Korea.
15 years ago it would have made sense to buy up one of these competitive players but that time has passed, and the cannibalistic nature of outsourcing in neoliberal capitalism means a domestic industry is seen as a liability, not a strength. heck, owning any means of production instead of a brand is as well so its no surprise Ford's just kicking this one over to China to solve.
tl;dr the climate bill is about national security, not climate.