Our Next Energy (ONE), an energy storage technology company, announced an investment of $1.6 billion in a new battery cell manufacturing plant in Van Buren Township, Michigan.
The recently constructed facility — ONE Circle — is expected to create 2,112 new jobs when operating at its full annual capacity of 20 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 the 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 automotive workforce with emphasis on equitable economic development.
ONE will 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,” said Jerry Norcia, DTE Energy Chairman and CEO. “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.
ONE is also partnering with a North American battery recycler to bring recycled materials back into its LFP and Anode-Free cells. 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 in partnership with DTE Energy.
ONE conducted a competitive site selection process, evaluating 12 states and a Canadian province, but selected Michigan because of the commitment of the State and DTE Energy to making Michigan a key part of the electric vehicle future. This was in part due to Governor Whitmer and EGLE’s MI Healthy Climate Plan, which outlines a path to carbon neutrality by 2050 and a specific focus on supporting increased electric vehicle infrastructure access and affordability.