YUMA, AZ – EVelution Energy, a U.S. electric vehicle (EV) battery materials processor, announced plans to build a solar-powered carbon neutral cobalt sulfate production plant in Yuma County, Arizona.
The Arizona Commerce Authority reported that the facility, the first of its kind in the United States, is expected to begin construction in 2024 and be fully operational in 2026, creating approximately 300 construction jobs and 60 full-time jobs once operational.
The plant, representing a US$200 million investment, will produce cobalt sulfate for electric vehicle batteries, a crucial material for the U.S. initiative to electrify the vehicle fleet and transition to a net-zero economy.
Cobalt sulfate is an integral component of the U.S. supply chain for critical electric vehicle (EV) materials. EVelution Energy’s facility is expected to produce approximately 33,000 metric tons per year of cobalt sulfate for EV batteries, enough to support domestic production of about 470,000 EVs per year.
“This is a big win for Yuma and our drive toward a more sustainable future. Arizonans working at this facility will fuel our transition to a clean energy economy and reinforce the state’s reputation as a pioneer for a resilient and sustainable future,” said Gov. Katie Hobbs.
“Our new production facility will bring basic infrastructure, as well as jobs and technology, back to the United States and reduce our dependence on other countries for essential materials for electric vehicle batteries,” commented Navaid Alam, President and CEO of EVelution Energy.
Built in a qualified opportunity area in Yuma County between Tacna and Dateland, this “green” facility is intended to be best-in-class, applying sustainable practices in all aspects of manufacturing and operations. In addition, the fully solar-powered facility is expected to not only meet all of its energy needs, but also support the surrounding agricultural community with clean energy.
EVelution Energy’s proposed investment highlights recent increased economic activity in rural Arizona, including Optimal Health Systems’ supplement production expansion in the city of Pima, FrameTec’s US$40 million manufacturing plant in Camp Verde and Nucor’s $100 million expansion of its steel production facility in Kingman.
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