Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and executives from AESC recently to help place the last piece of structural steel at its 1.6 million-square-foot, $2 billion gigafactory in Bowling Green’s Kentucky Transpark. The state-of-the-art 30-gigawatt hour plant will create 2,000 new, skilled jobs in the region, producing battery cells and modules to power next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) for multiple global automotive manufacturers.
“Today we celebrated another step forward for AESC in Bowling Green – the second largest economic investment in Kentucky’s history, set to create 2,000 full-time jobs,” said Gov. Beshear. “Our commonwealth is now a national leader in electric vehicle battery production, and AESC has been central to that success. I am grateful to this company’s leadership for betting on Kentucky and for bringing this transformational project to Warren County.”
AESC’s Bowling Green operation is the second largest economic development project in state history and further establishes Kentucky as a leader in the EV sector. The company will produce new generation battery cells that provide 30% more energy density than the current generation, leading to reduced charging time and increased range and efficiency for EVs. The Bowling Green operation is expected to power up to 300,000 vehicles annually by 2027.
AESC’s Bowling Green factory is on track for an early 2025 opening. AESC will implement high-tech capabilities to increase the cost-competitiveness and technological sophistication of EV batteries produced here, which will make EVs more accessible and affordable for American motorists. The gigafactory will be powered by 100% renewable energy, supplied by onsite generation and purchased locally from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
“AESC is honored to celebrate with the Bowling Green community and the entire state of Kentucky as we complete the construction of our new state-of-the-art gigafactory,” said AESC U.S. Managing Director Jeff Deaton. “We could not have reached this tremendous achievement without our partnerships with state and local leaders and the talented teams across the region. We are confident that this gigafactory will not only strengthen local economies by creating thousands of new competitive clean energy jobs but also advance Kentucky’s position at the forefront of the fast-growing and global EV industry. AESC’s new gigafactory enhances our globally diversified structure and production footprint around the world. It represents an important achievement in our strategy to strengthen our footprint in the U.S. as we drive innovation and supply chain development of battery production to make electric vehicles more affordable and accessible for the growing U.S. market. By uniting Warren County’s talented leadership and strong local communities with our advanced technology, we are creating the next generation of battery solutions to meet the increasing demand for more energy-efficient electric vehicles across the globe. We look forward to our continued collaboration as we work closely to unlock the vast potential of this exciting project together.”
Incorporated and headquartered in Japan, AESC is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-performance batteries for EVs and energy storage systems. The company’s leading-edge technology and reliability are enabling and accelerating the transition to clean energy solutions. Through rapid expansion, AESC batteries will soon power more than 1 million EVs for the world’s top automakers.
Warren County Judge/Executive Doug Gorman highlighted the company’s large investment: “It is a monumental day for AESC and for our region, and this is the largest investment announcement our community has ever seen. Seeing the facility come to life is incredible. The economic impact of this project will generate $20 billion over the next decade, and at full employment, will generate over $233 million in new spending in the community annually.”
Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott is excited about the progress being made at the Transpark: “We are thrilled that AESC chose Bowling Green as their home and are so excited to see the progress toward being online. This facility will create amazing opportunities for 2,000 of our residents, and we can’t wait to celebrate the opening with them.”
Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ron Bunch praised the project: “We are ecstatic about AESC’s progress on their state-of-the-art facility and are honored to be celebrating this milestone today alongside the community leaders whose collaboration made this possible.”
Tennessee Valley Authority Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley congratulated AESC on this milestone: “Congratulations to AESC on this milestone. TVA, Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development are proud to help support companies that are driving innovation and electrifying change in the region. We look forward to the continued success of AESC and celebrate this occasion together.”