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Officials in Georgia announced last week that Plug Power, a leading provider of clean hydrogen and zero-emission fuel cell solutions, is planning to build a manufacturing facility in Camden County.
The company is expected to invest approximately $90 million in Camden County over the next five years and create approximately 40 new jobs at the county industrial park near Interstate 95, Exit 7.
“The company produces fuel cells primarily for equipment used in distribution centers for companies like Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot and other nationally recognized brands and was seeking expansion to better serve their customers throughout the Southeast,” stated a news release from the Camden County Joint Development Authority.
The JDA has been working with Plug representatives for months to put together the deal. Board members approved a memorandum of understanding with Plug Power’s parent company at a meeting last Thursday, as well as a land purchase that will allow Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation to build a power station to serve that site.
The company will occupy about 20 acres at the industrial park. The signed memorandum includes a schedule for tax abatement that will be made possible through a cashless bond agreement with the JDA. By the 11th year after the sale, the company will be taxed at 100%.
Given the economic impact of the Plug Power location choice in southeast Georgia, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp released a statewide announcement following the JDA board vote.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Plug Power to the Peach State,” said Kemp. “As the No. 1 state for business and the home to several of Plug Power’s customers, including Southern Company and the Home Depot, I’m confident this solutions-oriented company will find continued success and innovative partnerships in Georgia.”
According to a release issued by the JDA, construction on the new facility is expected to start in the next 30 days with completion of their phase one plant by November of this year with phase two expected to begin in the next 18 months. The company will share information about available jobs and the application process soon, it added.
“We were excited when approached by Plug Power and Okefenoke EMC to consider Camden County as a potential location for their expansion. We are pleased that we were able to structure a package that worked for the company and benefits both Camden and the extended southeast Georgia community. We are grateful for the cooperation of our partners in this recruiting endeavor Okefenoke EMC, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the City of Kingsland,” JDA Executive Director James Coughlin said.
Coughlin added that “it is a real coup for Camden to be able to attract a NASDEQ listed company with the financial stability of Plug Power. More and more companies are seeing the benefits of doing business in Camden.”
Key Kingsland staff will join Coughlin in visiting a similar Plug Power project in Tennessee later this month for a first-hand view of the operation.
“The Camden County Industrial Park in Kingsland has emerged as one of the fastest-growing centers of our community’s economic base. Adding to our ongoing post-pandemic effort to advance a robust economic recovery, this multimillion-dollar project delivers on our goals of developing a vibrant and sustainable industrial sector and quality, accessible jobs for citizens,” said Kingsland Mayor Grayson Day. “We are grateful that Plug Power has chosen Kingsland for their new development and we look forward to being a part of this transformative project that will have a significant economic impact on our community.”
According to the Plug Power website, the company touts, “Plug Power fuel cells are designed for today’s and tomorrow’s supply chain and logistics applications, on-road vehicles, stationary power markets and more.”
Hydrogen fuel cells use an electrochemical reaction to provide zero-emission energy that can be used to power anything from commercial vehicles to data centers to drones. According to the website, the advantage of those cells are that they provide zero-emissions power in a way that improves efficiency, can be scaled to different sizes and lowers operational costs.
Coughlin explained at the meeting that this is important for companies that are running indoor vehicles around the clock. Plug Power converts vital equipment to run on hydrogen fuel cells, he said.
According to the company website, “Hydrogen fuel cells produce no harmful emissions, eliminated costs associated with the handling and storing of toxic materials like battery acid or diesel fuel. In fact, when fueled by pure hydrogen, the only by-products are heat and water, making our products zero emission, sustainable power source. HFCs are part of many well-planned corporate sustainability programs.”
Echoing the governor, Coughlin said several major companies in operation in Georgia, as well as the Georgia Ports Authority, already have business relationship with Plug Power.
“We hope it will attract other investment. We’re starting to get some recognition,” Coughlin added.