Informational Webinar: Battery and Critical Mineral Recycling – Retailers as Collection Points
TLDRThe Department of Energy's office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESQue) hosted a webinar on battery and critical mineral recycling, focusing on retailer programs for consumer electronics battery collection and transport. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $15 million in grants to support this initiative, aiming to establish robust domestic supply chains for EV batteries. Retailers selling covered batteries are eligible to apply for competitive grants, requiring a 50% cost share. The funding aims to facilitate battery collection, handling, sorting, storage, and transportation, excluding the industrial recycling process. The application deadline is April 9th, with an expected announcement of selected projects in May or June.
Takeaways
- 😀 The webinar is hosted by the Department of Energy's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESQue).
- 📝 The event is being recorded and will be made available for viewing in the coming days.
- 🔧 Technical difficulties should be resolved by exiting and re-entering the webinar.
- 🗓️ The agenda includes an overview of funding opportunities for battery recycling and retailer programs.
- 💰 The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $15 million in grants for consumer electronics battery recycling and transport.
- 🛒 The prime recipient of the grant must be a retailer that sells covered batteries or battery products.
- 🔍 The funding aims to support battery collection, handling, sorting, storage, and transportation, but not the industrial recycling process.
- 📈 The goal is to establish programs with retailers for battery collection to support a domestic energy supply chain.
- 📋 Proposals are due by April 9th at 5:00 PM Eastern Time and must include a 50% cost share.
- 🤝 Retailers can partner with other organizations but must be listed as the prime applicant.
- 📚 Additional resources and guidelines are provided for safely transporting lithium-ion batteries and for creating community benefits plans.
Q & A
What is the purpose of the webinar hosted by the Department of Energy's office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESQue)?
-The purpose of the webinar is to discuss funding opportunities for retailer programs related to consumer electronics battery collection and transport, as established by the bipartisan infrastructure law, and to guide interested parties on how to apply for these grants.
What is MESQue's role in supporting America's energy economy?
-MESQue's role is to ensure that America's energy economy is supported by clean, resilient, and domestic supply chains. Specifically, it focuses on battery and critical material recycling to secure America's domestic energy supply chain by reducing reliance on foreign imports and creating recycling opportunities for lithium-ion batteries.
How many projects has MESQue invested in so far, and what are some of the key accomplishments?
-MESQue has invested in 71 projects across 38 states, with accomplishments including enabling over 1.3 million EVs per year to be produced, creating over 10,000 jobs, and training over 700 students per year for clean energy positions. Additionally, over 33% of their investments have benefited energy justice communities.
What is the funding opportunity provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for battery recycling?
-The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $15 million in funding in the form of grants to support the recycling of consumer electronic batteries and battery-containing devices, aiming to build a robust domestic critical material supply chain for EV batteries in the United States.
Who is eligible to be the prime recipient of the proposed retailer programs for consumer electronics battery collection and transport?
-The prime recipient must be a retailer that sells covered batteries or covered battery products. While partnerships with other organizations are allowed, the prime applicant listed must be a retailer.
What is the definition of 'covered batteries' in the context of this funding opportunity?
-Covered batteries are defined as new or unused primary batteries or rechargeable batteries. Primary batteries are non-rechargeable and weigh no more than 4.4 pounds, including alkaline, carbon zinc, and lithium metal batteries. Rechargeable batteries are designed to be recharged and contain one or more voltaic or galvanic cells.
What are the key components that a proposal should address for the battery collection program?
-A proposal should address key challenges such as transportation, collection, storage, and any communication, training, and public information aspects. It should also detail the number of collection points intended to be created or enhanced and estimate the quantity of materials to be collected.
What is the deadline for submitting proposals for the funding opportunity?
-The deadline for submitting proposals is April 9th at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
What is the required cost share for the funding opportunity, and what contributions are not allowed towards the cost share?
-The funding opportunity requires a 50% cost share, which can be provided by the prime or secondary recipients or a third party. Vendors or contractors cannot contribute towards the cost share. Contributions not allowed include revenues, royalties, proceeds from asset sales, federal funding or property, and expenditures reimbursed under a separate federal program.
How can interested parties access the funding opportunity announcement and submit their proposals?
-Interested parties can access the funding opportunity announcement through the provided link in the Exchange system by searching for the FOA number 2897. Proposals must be submitted through the same system by clicking on the 'Apply' button.
What are some additional resources that can help in constructing a proposal for the battery recycling funding opportunity?
-Additional resources include guidelines for safely transporting lithium-ion batteries from the Department of Transportation, an FAQ document for lithium-ion battery recycling, and labeling guidelines under the bipartisan infrastructure law from the EPA.
Outlines
🔄 Introduction to Battery and Critical Mineral Recycling Webinar
The script introduces a webinar hosted by the Department of Energy's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESQue). It explains the event's logistics, including automatic muting of participants' audio and video, the disabling of public chat and Q&A, and the availability of closed captions. The agenda is outlined, featuring a presentation by Amanda McCalpin, the Supply Chain Deployment Manager for Critical Material in MESQue, covering the office's role in supporting a clean, resilient domestic supply chain for energy, and the investments made in projects across the country to bolster the production of electric vehicles and job creation in clean energy sectors.
🚀 Funding Opportunities for Retailer Programs in Battery Recycling
This section discusses the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's provision of grants to support the recycling of consumer electronic batteries, aiming to build a robust domestic supply chain for EV batteries. The focus is on retailer programs for battery collection and transport, with $15 million in funding available for competitive grants requiring a 50% cost share. The script details the eligibility criteria, the definition of 'covered batteries,' and the objectives of the funding, which include establishing programs with retailers for battery collection, handling, sorting, storage, and transportation. It also outlines the proposal submission process, including deadlines and page limits, and emphasizes the importance of a community benefits plan, especially for environmental justice communities.
📋 Guidelines and Requirements for Proposal Submission
The script provides detailed guidelines for applicants preparing to submit proposals for the funding opportunity. It defines 'covered batteries,' explains the role of the prime applicant as a retailer, and outlines the required 50% cost share, which can be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. The script clarifies what cannot be counted towards the cost share, such as revenues, federal funding, or the same contributions used for multiple projects. It also guides applicants on how to access the funding opportunity announcement, use provided templates, and where to submit questions and teaming partner requests.
⏰ Timeline and Additional Resources for the Battery Recycling Funding
The final paragraph outlines the timeline for the funding opportunity, with selection announcements expected in May and June, and negotiations for selected proposals to begin in June and July. It also addresses common questions about the application process, such as the platform for submission, the non-acceptance of concept papers, and the requirement for the primary applicant to be a retailer. The script provides additional resources from the Department of Transportation and the EPA to assist with proposal construction and reminds participants of the importance of submitting their applications on time, considering the hard deadline of the exchange system.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Battery and Critical Mineral Recycling
💡MESQue
💡Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
💡Retailer Programs
💡Funding Opportunities
💡Cost Share
💡Community Benefits
💡Environmental Justice
💡EV Batteries
💡Covered Batteries
💡Application Requirements
Highlights
The webinar is hosted by the Department of Energy's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESQue).
The event is being recorded and will be made available for viewing in the next few days.
MESQue aims to secure America's domestic energy supply chain by promoting lithium-ion battery recycling.
MESQue has invested in 71 projects across 38 states, enabling 1.3 million EVs production per year and creating over 10,000 jobs.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $15 million in grants for retailer programs for consumer electronics battery collection and transport.
Funding requires a 50% cost share, and proposals must be submitted by retailers selling covered batteries or products.
The funding aims to establish battery collection programs, not covering the industrial or chemical recycling process.
Proposals should address key challenges such as transportation, collection, storage, and public information.
The deadline for applications is April 9th at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
A retailer can be a department store, electronic store, or pharmacy chain selling batteries or battery-containing products.
Proposals must include a community benefits plan, especially for environmental justice communities.
The cost share can be provided by the prime or secondary recipients but not by vendors or contractors.
In-kind contributions such as volunteer time or space and equipment are allowed for the cost share.
Submission of proposals is through the Exchange system, not accessible on grants.gov.
Proposals must be submitted by the prime applicant, and concept papers are not accepted for this funding opportunity.
Additional resources include guidelines for safely transporting lithium-ion batteries and EPA resources on battery recycling.
The selection announcement is expected in May or June, with negotiations beginning in June or July.
MESQue encourages early submission of proposals to avoid last-minute technical difficulties.
The webinar provides a direct link to the funding opportunity announcement and resources for proposal preparation.
Transcripts
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