Withdrawal of Planned Pikeville Employer Enerblu, Inc., Linked to Global Events
In January, Lexington-based battery manufacturer Enerblu, Inc., suspended plans to build a rechargeable battery production facility in Pikeville, Ky. The company had intended to create 875 jobs, which Kentucky Senator Ray Jones and others hoped would provide needed economic opportunities in Eastern Kentucky.
Enerblu halted the plans after the loss of their primary investor, Japanese technology organization Softbank Group. Following the October murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi Arabian consulate, the Softbank CEO did not attend a Saudi investment conference and the company lost investments from the country, according to reporting from Ohio Valley ReSource.
The proposed facility site was on reclaimed mine land and would have needed ground repair. At a Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce meeting in Pikeville, former Enerblu CEO Daniel Elliot stated that the ground repairs would cost $30 million, but that they hoped to overcome the difficulty and move forward with their plan.
John Thomas, Enerblu’s new CEO, expressed the company’s disappointment with the investor’s departure in a press release. “As we move forward as a company to develop a viable and impactful project, we encourage other companies to discover what we found within this region of Appalachia,” he stated. — By Jamie Tews
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
Signs of Life
In the Nantahala National Forest, a team of biologists spotted Indiana bats, an endangered species that hasn’t been seen in North Carolina for the last 11 years.
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
After 20 Years, Letcher County Prison Proposal Is Still Alive, Though Obstacles Remain
A $605 million proposal for a federal prison on a former strip mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky, championed by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, refuses to die, despite local opposition, a lack of support from the executive branch and numerous other obstacles.
The Washout and Rebuild
For nearly two years, residents of Unicoi County, Tennessee, have had to make do without a hospital after Hurricane Helene destroyed the rural hospital. Ballad Health, which owns the hospital, broke ground on a new location — in another floodplain — in August 2026.
The Shenandoah Salamander
The Shenandoah salamander is a woodland salamander, which has adapted to life at higher elevations away from water. This sparkling rarity lives among the dry leaves, cracked logs, and stony hillocks on the highest peaks of Shenandoah National Park.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment