The Department of Energy (DOE) has confirmed the cancellation of $720 million in manufacturing grants that were awarded to several startups focused on battery materials and energy efficiency technologies. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the projects failed to meet required milestones and did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs. The affected companies include Ascend Elements, which was developing a recycling technology for lithium-ion batteries; Anovion, which aimed to produce synthetic graphite for battery anodes; and LuxWall, which was working on energy-efficient insulating windows. These grants were part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and were intended to help these startups navigate the challenging transition from technology development to commercial deployment. The cancellation raises concerns about the future of these innovative projects and their potential impact on the U.S. manufacturing landscape.