This podcast episode explores the challenges and potential of building up the battery industry in the United States, specifically focusing on the role of graphite processing. It discusses the Biden administration's strategy to reduce reliance on China and highlights the need for developing a domestic supply chain. The section also showcases the efforts of a small town in Alabama, Alexander City, to become a leading graphite processor and create employment opportunities. The episode examines the challenges faced by Westwater Resources, a company planning to open a graphite processing plant in Alabama, including the "potato problem" of shaping graphite particles and the need for financial support. The section emphasizes the importance of tariffs in encouraging companies to switch suppliers and the complexities of building a resilient supply chain.
