Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, the Assistant Secretary of Defense of Industrial Base Policy (IBP) said a recent investment into company Graphite One demonstrates a commitment to the domestic production of minerals like graphite. She made her remarks in a July 17 press release from the U.S. Department of Defense.
"This investment to increase domestic capabilities for graphite exemplifies Industrial Base Policy's commitment to building a resilient industrial base to meet current and future national defense requirements," said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, ASD (IBP), according to the press release. "The agreement with Graphite One (Alaska) advances the Defense Department's strategy for minerals and materials related to large-capacity batteries."
According to the press release, the “Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization” office, under the Office of the “Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy,” has established a partnership with Graphite One (Alaska). This collaboration, states the release, is designed to ensure a dependable and long-term provision of graphite within the U.S. These materials are planned to be used for the manufacturing of high-capacity batteries.
The $37.5 million deal with Graphite One (Alaska) will support the company's endeavor to cultivate a domestic graphite supply chain centered on its Graphite Creek, the press release reported. Graphite One plans to mine the Graphite Creek, processing the ore at a future production plant anticipated to be in Washington State, and reclaiming graphite and other materials at a planned recycling facility. New funding will expedite Graphite One's operations, enabling a comprehensive “U.S.-based graphite anode supply chain.”
According to the release, the CEO and founder of Graphite One, Anthony Huston, is confident that the new funding will expedite the company’s ability and plan to foster a domestic supply chain for graphite. He further expresses the necessity of the resource in today’s world, saying that without minerals like graphite, America “cannot maintain a 21st Century tech-driven economy.”
Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale is the “Assistant Secretary of Defense” for IBP, advising on various matters, including industrial policy manufacturing capabilities, and foreign investments, according to her bio page on the Industrial Base Policy (IBP) website. Her page states that from 2014 to 2017 she worked in the Obama Administration, and she boasts an extensive career of various leadership positions pertaining to U.S trade, manufacturing, and diplomacy. Additionally, she holds several degrees from varying institutions, including Princeton’s “School of Public and International Affairs.”
