Clifford referred to 2 Manchins.  Regarding that reference:  https://news.yahoo.com/biden-nominates-joe-manchin-wife-151818944.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

Gayle Manchin is both Senator Manchin's wife and also the Co-Chair of the Appalacian Regional Commisssion.

Friday’s announcements followed the Appalachian Regional Commission’s awarding of nearly $21 million in grants for economic revitalization projects in West Virginia and other states. Gayle Manchin, the senator’s wife, serves as the Appalachian Regional Commission’s federal co-chair.

https://wvmetronews.com/2022/03/18/manchin-federal-leaders-hopeful-programs-can-revitalize-west-virginia-other-communities/

Senator Manchin:  “While I remain concerned about our dependence on China and other foreign countries for key parts of the lithium-ion battery supply chain, engaging our strong and capable workforce to manufacture batteries domestically is a critical step toward reducing our reliance on other countries and ensuring we are able to maintain our energy security,” Manchin said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing this initiative grow, and we will continue to work closely together to ensure we can onshore the rest of the battery supply chain.”

https://www.autonews.com/mobility-report/energy-startup-sparkz-plans-wva-battery-plant

Sparkz Inc., a Livermore, California-based company.

Sparkz: The company, founded in 2019, said it will be announcing customer partnerships in the coming months. Its first markets will likely be in material handling vehicles, like forklifts, agricultural equipment and energy storage.

Hmm, that makes me wonder at least 2 different things.  1) Will the battery that Sparkz comes up with have a lithium chemistry with a high energy density?  I wonder about batteries that are suited for forklifts being as easily suited for EVs used in private and commercial transportation.  2) I wonder about the often mentioned possibility here on this forum by one of our members if there might not be a link between Sparkz and Electrovaya since Electrovaya has been a leader in lithium batteries for forklifts for many years.  Right, ProsserP?

CEO of Sparkz, Sanjiv Malhotra, is one of those guys who left an executive position in government to start a company.  

“America’s clean energy future will reach its potential when we innovate and manufacture the next generation of energy storage domestically,” Malhotra, a former U.S. Department of Energy executive, said in a news release.

https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-west-virginia-charleston-united-mine-workers-of-america-ebfa638695a5344262ad0ecdae88e9bd

And the beat goes on....

Okiedo