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    Renewables, Metals firms celebrate groundbreaking on $500M Manufacturing site to run on Solar-Storage Microgrid

    March 7, 2023
    Berkshire Hathaway Energy’s BHE Renewables, Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) and its subsidiary Titanium Metals Corp. joined state officials for the ceremony on 2,000 acres in Jackson County
    Image credit webiste of U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito
    Shelly Moore Capito 64075db471b9f

    West Virginia political leaders joined industrial and renewable energy firms late last week to celebrate groundbreaking on a future $500 million manufacturing site that will be powered by a solar microgrid.

    Berkshire Hathaway Energy’s BHE Renewables, Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) and its subsidiary Titanium Metals Corp. joined state officials for the ceremony on 2,000 acres in Jackson County. The metals firm will be the first company to locate in an industrial park, operating a titanium melt facility.

    BHS Renewables is purchasing the land, home to a former aluminum plant, from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority. The titanium melt plant, which will make products for the aerospace and other industries, will utilize power generated from solar panels and battery storage systems.

    “We’re proud to deliver this new sustainable energy solution for PCC, their customers and the people of Jackson County,” said BHE Renewables President and CEO Alicia Knapp. “Thanks to the collaboration with local, state and federal leaders, and our partnership with PCC and ONE, we are demonstrating how renewable energy can be a catalyst for economic growth and bring new manufacturing jobs to West Virginia, which is truly a great place to do business.”

    The industrial plant will employ about 200 people, according to reports.

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    BHE Renewables has selected ONE – Our Next Energy, Inc. – as its partner for large-scale battery storage. ONE also announced it would make an additional $22 million investment in the site and build a new Aries Grid factory.

    The Aries Grid, expected to open by 2025, would manufacture utility-scale battery storage systems using Michigan-made lithium iron phosphate battery cells. This factor could generate another 105 jobs.

    “This Jackson County project represents a historic transition to renewable energy-based manufacturing in the U.S. and establishes a standard for others to follow,” said Mujeeb Ijaz, CEO and Founder of ONE. “Building upon BHE Renewables’ commitment to this site and the State of West Virginia, ONE’s first Aries Grid factory will bring even more jobs and investment to this area to help clear a path to a carbon-free manufacturing future.”

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.