House Passes Outdoor Act, EV Savings, Battery Plants Bring Jobs to the Southeast, and Other News

Here’s what you might have missed this week in outdoor, innovation, and EV news.

EV Battery Plants Bring Jobs to the Southeast

Manufacturing jobs have been disappearing across the Southeast U.S. over the past several decades, but EV battery factories are adding new economic opportunities to the region. Battery and battery component manufacturers—including Toyota—are opening factories in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, bringing jobs to a growing “battery belt.” 

Listen (from NPR) 

House Passes Historic EXPLORE Act

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act with overwhelming bipartisan support. The new legislation, which heads to the Senate next, is designed to expand outdoor recreation access and stimulate rural economies, among other things.

Read More (from RVIA) 

Georgia Could Get Its First National Park

There are currently no national parks in Georgia, but that might change soon. A local group called the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) is pushing to elevate the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park near Macon to national park status. If approved by Congress, it would be the first national park co-managed by a removed tribe, the Muscogee Nation. 

Read More (from Travel + Leisure)

Electric Cars are Saving Everyone Money

Even if you don’t drive an electric vehicle, EV adoption is likely saving you money. A new report by Synapse Energy Economics found that EV drivers provided net revenue to the energy grid to the tune of more than $3 billion between 2011 and 2021. This is expected to increase as more people make the switch to electric cars.

Read More (from Electrek)

Tesla Announces Robotaxi Reveal  

Tesla’s Model 2 project—which promised an affordable, $25K EV—has reportedly been scrapped in favor of self-driving robotaxis, developed on the same small-vehicle platform as the Model 2. Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the new robotaxi will be unveiled on August 8, but provided no further context.  

Read More (from Green Car Reports)

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