The recent competition between U.S. car makers to produce an affordable electric is also spurring an increase in “green” jobs.   According to dnj.com, Nissan broke ground on a new lithium battery plant located in Smyrna, Tennessee on Wednesday.  The plant will produce a critical component of Nissan’s brand new electric car, the Leaf.  Nissan already employs some 4,400 workers in Smyrna.  The new facility will add approximately another 1,300 jobs, as well as employ workers in the construction sector.

The county in which the new facility will be located, Rutherford, has seen a 10 percent unemployment rate as of late so the ground breaking is good news for the county.  These new “green” jobs, reports dnj, will most likely be filled by Tennesseans from throughout the county and state.  The recent competition between U.S. car makers to produce an affordable electric is also spurring an increase in “green jobs” as well as sustainable auto technology.