Vice President Biden Announces Reopening of Former GM Boxwood Plant

[denem]

Source: Media Newswire

Wilmington, DE – As part of the of the Administration’s commitment to jumpstarting the production of fuel efficient vehicles in America, Vice President Joe Biden today announced Fisker Automotive is re-opening a shuttered former GM factory in Wilmington, Delaware, to produce long-range, plug-in, electric hybrid vehicles. The Wilmington assembly plant was selected by Fisker Automotive for its primary global production facility based on its size, production capacity; and access to shipping ports, rail lines and skilled workforce.

“While some wanted to write off America’s auto industry, we said no. We knew that we needed to do something different – in Delaware and all across the nation,” said Vice President Biden. “We understood a new chapter had to be written, a new chapter in which we strengthen American manufacturing by investing in innovation. Thanks to a real commitment by this Administration, loans from the Department of Energy, the creativity of U.S. companies and the tenacity of great state partners like Delaware – we’re on our way to helping America’s auto industry reclaim its top position in the global market.”

In September, Secretary Chu announced a $528.7 million conditional loan for Fisker Automotive for the development of two lines of plug-in hybrids, which will save hundreds of millions gallons of gasoline and offset millions of tons of carbon pollution by 2016. Of the total loan, $359 million is going to revive manufacturing at the Boxwood Plant. The Boxwood Plant will support Fisker Automotive’s Project NINA, the development and build of a mass-market plug-in hybrid sedan. The company estimates it will build 75,000-100,000 of these highly efficient vehicles every year by 2014. Also of the total loan, $169.3 million is helping support engineering integration in Michigan and California as Fisker works with U.S. suppliers to complete the company's first vehicle, design tools and equipment for mass manufacturing, and develop manufacturing processes for the new Wilmington, Delaware, facility.

“This is proof positive that our efforts to create new jobs, invest in a clean energy economy and reduce carbon pollution are working,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “We are putting Americans back to work and reigniting a new Industrial Revolution that is paramount for the economic success of this country.”

Read more: http://media-newswire.com/release_1104669.html

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This is the sort of stuff that politicians promise all the time in campaigns - the jobs of tomorrow that never come off, and are soon forgotten.

Not this time.

Edit. It's heavy reading, Joe must have written it himself.

[elleng]

1. 'Old' story, posted days ago.

Necessary to slam V.P. Biden's writing skills?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=404x31490

[denem]

3. Sorry. It came up on todays NewsWire. I'm a big Biden Fan - just joking

about the man's ability talk and ... Loved his campaigning in the GE.

Have alerted mods.

[elleng]

6. Thanks, denem. Did surprise me!

[denem]

7. I'll never forget the crowd roaring in this clip. Fantastic.

'What do you talk about when you've nothing say?'

http://suzieqq.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/biden-remember-what-harry-truman-would-say-i%E2%80%99m-not-gonna-to-giv%E2%80%99em-hell-i%E2%80%99m-gonna-tell-them-the-truth-and-they%E2%80%99re-gonna-think-it%E2%80%99s-hell/

Definitely one of the highlights of the year.

[elleng]

8. BRAVO and thanks!

[Romulox]

11. Are you a fan of the bankruptcy "reforms" and drug war stuff that Biden is famous for?

:hi:

[MercutioATC]

2. Fisker is an unproven company that's going to build a $40k plug-in hybrid.

...or, at least TRY to...

[Romulox]

10. No private capital would touch this deal. This is crony capitalism. nt

[woodsprite]

4. And UD's waiting approval from bankruptcy court to accept their

offer on the Chrysler plant in Newark, DE. There are articles up regarding the sale and future plans at:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20091024/NEWS03/910240360/1008/UD-signs-deal-to-buy-Chrysler-site
http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2010/oct/chrysler102409.html

[AllentownJake]

5. This seems to be a waste

$40,000 cars with no $40,000 brand name and no dealership network?

[Romulox]

9. So...the corporation that Al Gore has a large position in gets a half a billion taxpayer dollars

to build a car in the VP's state, at a plant purchased from a government owned company.

This is disgusting crony capitalism, and certainly nothing to celebrate.

[MercutioATC]

12. Half a billion, actually, but it's still a lot of money.

[Romulox]

14. Oops. Fixed. It's nonetheless cronyism at its most blatant. nt

[AngryAmish]

13. i'm an idiot -- I can't read.