LANCASTER – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded the funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for domestic battery component and manufacturing supply chains by awarding Cirba Solutions’ North America Manufacturing and Distribution Plant in Lancaster, Ohio, $75 million as part of an expansion plan to upgrade the existing lithium-ion battery recycling facility to produce battery-grade raw materials. This is one of 21 projects across the country to build new, retrofitted, batteries. The historic $2.8 billion in funding for the program will grow and strengthen the U.S. battery supply chain and bolster American manufacturing.
“This announcement is another example of how the bipartisan infrastructure law continues to pay dividends for Ohio. This funding will help bolster domestic battery component manufacturing, materials processing, and recycling to support the growing EV market and energy storage demand,” said Portman. “Thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and this new funding, Ohio will continue to be a leader in reshoring America’s battery production and manufacturing.”
This funding is part of a $2.8 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help support new and expanded commercial-scale domestic facilities to process lithium, graphite and other battery materials, manufacture components, and demonstrate new approaches, including manufacturing components from recycled materials.
Funding for the project will be used to expand and upgrade Cirba
Solutions’ existing lithium-ion recycling facility in Lancaster, Ohio. Cirba Solutions will collect, disassemble, shred, and upgrade the critical minerals present from tens-of-thousands of tons of lithium-ion batteries so the
materials can be reused to produce new lithium-ion batteries. At full operation, the Lancaster facility will be one of the largest commercial-scale recycling facilities in North America, producing enough battery-grade critical minerals to power more than 200,000 new electric vehicles (EVs) annually. The capability to recycle lithium-ion batteries is imperative for the U.S. to develop a sustainable domestic supply chain for the EV market, as well as to build a stable infrastructure for an electric future.
Cirba Solutions is advancing a critical area in the battery supply chain. The expanded facility in Lancaster, Ohio, is expected to provide up to an estimated 150 jobs (creating 40 skilled positions initially), while continuing to support the broader community. The advancement of equity, environmental justice, and energy justice are woven into the framework of the organization. The company will work with a wide range of organizations, including a woman-owned small business to support environmental recruiting locally. Cirba Solutions will continue to partner with organizations such as Lancaster Parks & Recreation and Habitat for Humanity to extend its philanthropic activities, educate community groups about battery safety, and provide recycling services to robotics teams
