$44M in construction liens on Li-Cycle Rochester Hub paid off

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More than $44 million in past-due construction bills for work on the former Li-Cycle Rochester Hub have been paid, initiating the release of a dozen contractor liens on the in-limbo project.

Filings with the Monroe County Clerk’s Office on Thursday show nine creditors have released construction liens that were enforced late in 2023 or during 2024 on the lithium-ion battery recycling facility at 205 McLaughlin Road in Greece.

In bringing current the outstanding bills with contractors — including LeChase Construction Services of Greece and Frank Lill & Son of Victor — Li-Cycle successor Glencore would appear poised to resume construction.

A Glencore spokesperson, however, said “we are not commenting.”

While the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) remains in contact with Glencore officials, “we are still awaiting updates from them about the specificity and scope of their plans for the Greece site,” COMIDA Executive Director Ana Liss said.

The originator of the project, Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. of Toronto, halted construction in October of 2023 due to escalating building costs and overwhelming financial constraints. When plans for the massive facility were announced in November of 2022, Li-Cycle expected to hire around 250 workers.

But the company lacked working capital, and when the U.S. Department of Energy withheld issuance of a $375 million loan, Li-Cycle’s position became even more precarious as cost estimates for completion of the Rochester Hub neared $1 billion. That was more than double the original projection.

Li-Cycle eventually filed for bankruptcy in May. Swiss-based mining and commodities giant Glencore, which already had invested heavily in the company, bought the assets of Li-Cycle out of bankruptcy in August through GBR HubCo LLC.

GRC HubCo officials told the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) later in August that the company intended to resume construction and bring recycling activities at the site online.

Because of those assurances, the COMIDA board unanimously approved Glencore’s assumption of the lease agreement and tax abatements through a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes).

Among the liens that were released following repayment: $8.22 million to Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc., of Mississauga, Ontario; $7.42 million to Andronaco Industries LLC of Kentwood, Michigan; two totaling $11.75 million to LeChase Construction Services; and two totaling $8.7 million to Frank Lill & Son.

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