In December 2017, power technology producer EnerBlu announced plans to open a $372 million battery manufacturing plant in Pikeville, Ky., in 2020.
The Eastern Kentucky economy, which has faced a sharp decline in coal jobs, would benefit from the economic diversification the plant would bring, according to state Sen. Ray Jones.
EnerBlu projects the one million-square-foot plant would be located on a reclaimed surface mine and employ 875 people in its fourth year. The company also plans to move its headquarters and research and development work to Lexington early this year and employ 110 people, making their total investment in Kentucky over $400 million.
According to the Lexington Herald Leader, state officials are hopeful that the project could put many of the laid-off miners back to work and increase demand for local housing.
The plant would be the first in the United States to make rechargeable lithium-titanate oxide batteries, which will power electric transit buses, commercial trucks, military vehicles and other equipment.
Gov. Bevin’s office claims EnerBlu picked Kentucky due to the availability of a trained workforce. The company will also receive $30 million in tax incentives from the state for the relocation.
While lithium-ion batteries have shown significant environmental impacts, not much is known about the effects of lithium-titanate oxide batteries.
—Hannah Gillespie
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
English Language Learning in Appalachia
Learning English is always difficult. But current aggressive approaches to immigration policy are creating more barriers for learners and the programs that serve them than ever before in Appalachia and beyond.
Landfill Drama
Many residents of Pike County, Kentucky, are breathing a sigh of relief since county commissioners finalized their decision to rescind a contract with an out-of-state waste management company.
Overdrive: Fossil Fuels in Appalachia
Electricity demand is on the rise. Here, we share snapshots of energy trends in the region and how methane gas, coal and data centers are affecting our communities — and how people are pushing back.
Less Support for Communities with Mine Problems
The Trump administration issued a regulation to weaken the Ten Day Notice process that helps community members call in federal enforcement when state regulators don’t do a good job policing environmental problems at coal mines
Chaos at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Cuts to Public Input
The past year has brought turmoil and uncertainty to the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public power provider, and its more than 10 million customers across the Tennessee Valley.
Landmark Coal Ash Protections Under Attack
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to eviscerate important, hard-won regulations on coal ash, a toxic waste left after burning coal for energy.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment