SAVANNAH, GA – The Zero Emission Transportation Association Education Fund (ZETA Education Fund) hosted a business roundtable in Savannah, Georgia on Tuesday to highlight the state’s historic electric vehicle (EV) and battery supply chain investments. 

The event, which brought together elected officials and industry leaders, showcased Georgia’s place as a leader in the domestic EV and battery supply chain and reinforced the state’s importance in the interconnected, broader effort to establish the U.S. as a major player in the global market. Video and photos from the event can be downloaded here.

“I was thrilled to participate in ZETA’s Jobs Roundtable in Savannah. Georgia’s First Congressional District is growing rapidly, adding new manufacturers like Hyundai and the LG Battery plant. I am proud of the many people in our community who have worked hard to facilitate that growth and thank ZETA for drawing attention to Georgia’s booming clean energy supply chain,” said Representative Buddy Carter.

“Bringing the supply chain for electric vehicles from Asia to America is a win for everyone,” said Commissioner Tim Echols, Georgia Public Service Commission. “The ZETA confab brought together leaders to celebrate this accomplishment.”

“Georgia is poised to be a leader in the next generation of automotive manufacturing with its talented workforce, STEM-focused universities like Georgia Tech and world-class port facilities in Savannah. We also appreciate how policymakers like Governor Kemp, Senators Ossoff and Warnock and Representative Carter have welcomed us into their communities. Through our battery cell-making joint venture in Bryan County with Hyundai, we’re thrilled to be playing a role in Georgia’s automotive revolution,” said Bob Lee, President of LG Energy Solution North America.

“Building new manufacturing capacity and securing our EV and battery supply chain is essential to ensuring that the United States dominates modern technology manufacturing. But investing in the EV and battery industry goes beyond simply electrifying our transportation sector. It also creates well-paying jobs in places like Savannah, Georgia, and drives down costs for American consumers,” said Albert Gore, Executive Director, ZETA Education Fund.

“American investment in advanced energy manufacturing is more important now than ever. Together, we can re-shore our solar and storage supply chain to provide good-paying jobs, drive technological innovation to compete with China, and secure American energy independence,” said Yogin Kothari, Chief Strategy Officer, Solar Energy Manufacturers for America (SEMA) Coalition, which cohosted the event.

The roundtable opened with remarks from ZETA Education Fund’s Executive Director Albert Gore, and included a fireside chat with Congressman Buddy Carter, moderated by Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Bert Brantley. Bob Lee of LG Energy Solution North America provided a keynote address on growth in the industry.

The event also featured an industry panel with representatives from LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, Rivian Automotive, Siemens, Southern Company, and Qcells, moderated by Commissioner Tim Echols.

From battery manufacturing to charging deployment and automotive assembly, the EV and battery supply chain supports over $27.3 billion in investment and tens of thousands of jobs across Georgia.