Climate Insider Brief:
- The U.S. The Department of Energy selected Form Energy for a potential $150 million award to support Project RAPID, building a new iron-air battery manufacturing line in Weirton, West Virginia, with up to 20 GWh capacity by 2027.
- Project RAPID will create 750 jobs, including 600 permanent positions, by recruiting local workers, offering training, and partnering with educational institutions in West Virginia.
- Form Energy’s community benefits agreement with Weirton aims to revitalize the region, boosting local commerce and gaining political and community support.
PRESS RELEASE – Weirton, WV / September 20, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains has selected Form Energy for an award negotiation of up to $150 million under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing program. This selection will support Form Energy’s Project RAPID (Realizing Advanced Production of Iron-Air Batteries for Commercial Deployment), partially funding the installation and operation of a new manufacturing line at Form Factory 1 in Weirton, West Virginia that will have an annual production capacity of up to 20 GWh by 2027.
Project RAPID will also accelerate the hiring and training of a permanent domestic workforce of up to 600 employees, part of Form Energy’s broader commitment to create 750 jobs in the State of West Virginia. The company plans to tap into the local skilled labor pool, with a focus on recruiting and training workers transitioning into battery manufacturing. As part of its community engagement, Form Energy is entering into a community benefits agreement with the City of Weirton, and will invest in local educational institutions, including West Virginia Northern Community College and the JD Rockefeller Career Center. The company is also developing an internal upskilling academy and partnering with the Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley to provide critical support services for its workforce.
“We are grateful to the Department of Energy for their leadership and support,” said Mateo Jaramillo, Co-founder and CEO of Form Energy. “This selection is pivotal to advancing our manufacturing capabilities, expediting the hiring of hundreds of skilled workers, and reinforcing America’s energy independence by reducing reliance on foreign supply chains. We’re excited to contribute to the growth of a clean, domestic energy economy and build a strong, local workforce here in West Virginia.”
Form Energy’s factory is located on a historic 55-acre site in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, where the former Weirton Steel Corporation once employed over 12,000 workers. The company recently completed the first phase of construction for its 550,000-square-foot facility and has begun trial production of its groundbreaking multi-day battery systems.
Project RAPID has received broad support from Congressional members across the tri-state region, including from the entire West Virginia delegation of Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin and Representatives Carol Miller and Alex Mooney, as well as from Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Representative Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania.
Mike Adams, City Manager of Weirton, West Virginia remarked, “Our community was built on the foundation of Weirton Steel in the early 1900s, and long before the term ‘community benefits plan’ existed, Weirton Steel had one in action. We are excited to see Form Energy reigniting that spirit as an active partner with the City of Weirton. The hope and good jobs they’ve brought aren’t just beneficial for Form Energy but are creating new interest and commerce in our city and across the entire region. We’re optimistic that Form Energy will be the catalyst for Weirton’s continued revitalization!”
Media contact:
Olivia Evans
415-203-5280
SOURCE: Form Energy
Featured Image: Credit: Form Energy
