Rep. Lee Celebrates $1.6 Million in Federal Investment for Circular Battery Innovation in Pittsburgh

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Rep. Lee Celebrates $1.6 Million in Federal Investment for Circular Battery Innovation in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA – On October 30, Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12) celebrated a major investment from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), which awarded $1.6 million to SeaLion Energy, a local Pittsburgh innovator. This project is part of the Catalyzing Innovative Research for Circular Use of Long-lived Advanced Rechargeables (CIRCULAR) program, aiming to build a more sustainable battery supply chain, reduce electric vehicle (EV) waste, and extend battery life through pioneering repair and regeneration technologies.

The announcement is part of ARPA-E’s $36 million nationwide investment in 13 projects that seek to advance circular supply chains for EV batteries. SeaLion Energy’s initiative, known as TARDIS-J (Tunable Activation & Regeneration in Devices using In-Situ Jamming), will focus on developing cost-effective, scalable solutions to prolong battery cycle life and reduce waste, positioning Pittsburgh as a leader in clean energy innovation.

“With projects like this, Pittsburgh is proving itself as a national leader in clean technology and sustainable innovation,” said Rep. Summer Lee. “Federal investments in transformative projects like SeaLion’s TARDIS-J are critical not only to supporting local talent and job creation but also to advancing a sustainable future. This is what it means to invest in our communities—solutions that benefit the people and the planet.”

Key Details of SeaLion Energy’s Project Include:

• Project Title: TARDIS-J: Tunable Activation & Regeneration in Devices using In-Situ Jamming
• Funding Amount: $1,623,752
• Technology Focus: SeaLion’s TARDIS-J aims to extend battery life and reduce emissions by integrating advanced polymer coatings and scalable processes that can rejuvenate battery cells, making them compatible across multiple battery chemistries.

About the CIRCULAR Program
The CIRCULAR program supports projects nationwide to reduce EV waste and strengthen the domestic battery supply chain, catalyzing a shift toward circular, sustainable battery technologies. As the demand for EVs continues to surge, CIRCULAR projects like SeaLion Energy’s play a vital role in reducing emissions, conserving critical minerals, and positioning the U.S. as a leader in clean energy.

This initiative underlines the commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration to lead on climate solutions and energy security, building a robust clean energy economy that creates jobs and builds sustainable, inclusive growth in regions like Pittsburgh.

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Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 2,780 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.