Our Next Energy (ONE), a Novi-based energy storage technology company, has announced a $1.6 billion investment in a new battery cell manufacturing plant, to be called ONE Circle, in Van Buren Township.
“ONE is thrilled to select Michigan for our first cell factory, due to the state’s unique combination of battery talent, proximity to material supply, and access to low-cost energy,” says Mujeeb Ijaz, founder and CEO of ONE.
“We applaud the leadership of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the MEDC team, led by Quentin Messer. In addition, our collaboration and new strategic partnerships with DTE Energy, Van Buren Township, and Wayne County have helped ONE build a strong foundation for clean tech manufacturing in Michigan.”
The constructed facility is expected to create 2,112 new jobs when operating at its full annual capacity of 20 gigawatt-hours (GWh) by the end of 2027, equivalent to 200,000 electric vehicle battery packs annually.
ONE’s workforce development program will begin in 2024 and will re-train Michigan residents for high-skilled green manufacturing jobs at ONE Circle. The company will partner with Detroit-based Focus: HOPE and Walker-Miller Energy Services to help transition Michigan’s talented automotive workforce with emphasis on equitable economic development.
The company plans to offer an average annual salary of $67,456 (38 percent above the ALICE wage threshold), as well as industry-leading benefits and a comprehensive training program. Over the course of 20 years, ONE Circle is expected to generate $967 million in state taxes and more than $13 billion in new personal income.
“Working with the MEDC, DRP, and Wayne County we were very excited to play a leading role in ONE’s decision to land its operations in Van Buren Township,” says Jerry Norcia, chairman and CEO of DTE Energy. “ONE will bring new, high-tech jobs to Southeast Michigan, supporting further EV deployment and the possibility of integrated, high-capacity energy storage for the electric grid in the future.”
By 2028, ONE Circle will drive down carbon emissions by 45 percent by onshoring its supply chain and integrating materials refinement with its Massachusetts-based partner 6K Energy into its manufacturing processes, while leveraging renewable energy for 50 percent of its power needs.
It is also partnering with a well-known North American battery recycler to be able to bring recycled materials back into its LFP and anode-free cells. This more sustainable approach to cell manufacturing is further supported by ONE’s partnership with DTE Energy to operate a grid-tied factory with utility-scale energy storage. ONE Circle will act as a giant battery in its Gigafactory-to-Grid model to help stabilize the local power grid and provide renewable energy to the surrounding community in partnership with DTE Energy.
ONE conducted a competitive site selection process, evaluating 12 states and a Canadian province, but ultimately selected Michigan because of the commitment of the state and DTE Energy to making Michigan a key part of the electric vehicle future.
ONE will take possession of the newly constructed facility in January 2023 and begin upgrades and equipment installation. ONE Circle is being leased from Ashley Capital and is located at 42060 Ecorse Road in the Crossroads Distribution Center in Van Buren Township.
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