BHE Plans West Virginia Renewable Energy-Powered Industrial Site

Precision Castparts subsidiary Timet will invest $500 million to build an aerospace parts manufacturing plant on the new Ravenswood, WV industrial site.

BHE Renewables, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy business, has signed an agreement with West Virginia to purchase more than 2,000 acres of land in Ravenswood to be developed as a first-of-its-kind renewable energy microgrid-powered industrial site. Timet, the world’s largest producer of titanium airplane parts and a subsidiary of Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC), will be the first company to locate on the site. The company’s state-of-the-art titanium melt facility will use 100% renewable energy to manufacture products for the aerospace and other industries.

The West Virginia Economic Development Authority plans to work with BHE Renewables to bring additional businesses to the site to take advantage of the prime manufacturing location and renewable energy infrastructure.

West Virginia Renewable Energy“This is a monumental announcement that will pay dividends for generations to come,” said Governor Jim Justice. “The partnership we are forging with BHE Renewables and PCC is testament to West Virginia’s ability to compete on the world stage and recruit world-class companies like these to our state. I couldn’t be more proud of the fact that West Virginia will help lead the way into a new era of renewable energy microgrid-powered manufacturing. I can never thank BHE Renewables and PCC enough for their commitment to West Virginia and for the jobs and economic ripple effects this partnership will bring.”

“This project demonstrates how investing in clean energy can revive economies that have served our country’s energy needs for decades,” said BHE Renewables President and CEO Alicia Knapp.

“We are thrilled to partner with PCC and West Virginia to deliver this landmark renewable energy solution, hundreds of jobs and significant economic development,” said PCC Metals President Steve Wright. “Our future facility is an outstanding opportunity to use clean energy as we invest in further strengthening our position as a world leader in titanium metals. Manufacturing our products with 100% renewable energy benefits PCC and our customers as we strive to minimize the impact of our operations and wisely use natural resources.”

Why…West Virginia?

Mitch Carmichael, secretary of West Virginia’s Department of Economic Development, has many reasons why businesses should consider The Mountain State. Here are some of the state’s many business-related activities and advantages.

Previously, Gov. Justice called a Special Session of the West Virginia Legislature to consider a bill establishing a “Certified Industrial Business Expansion Development Program,” within the Department of Economic Development, to encourage the continued development, construction, operation, maintenance, and expansion in West Virginia of high impact industrial plants and facilities, in certain circumstances where the availability of electricity generated from renewable sources is demonstrated to be necessary.

West Virginia Renewable Energy

At the conclusion of the BHE Renewables announcement, Gov. Justice signed the bill after it passed both houses of the West Virginia Legislature.

“Our state’s growth-focused economic policies are second-to-none,” said West Virginia Secretary of Economic Development Mitch Carmichael. “West Virginia is investing in smart new ways for businesses to build success around clean energy that’s here to stay.”

You can watch a video of the project announcement below:

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