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Plug Power Inc., the Albany area manufacturer of clean energy processes, broke ground on Wednesday on its $290 million green hydrogen fuel production facility at the Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) in Genesee County.
Gov. Kathy Hochul joined other dignitaries at the town of Alabama megasite today.
“This groundbreaking is incredibly significant for the economies of the Finger Lakes and Western New York, providing new jobs and establishing the region as a prime destination for large manufacturers moving forward,” Hochul said. “Plug Power’s new facility will be the largest plant in North America producing green hydrogen, advancing our ambitious green energy goals as we work toward a cleaner future.”
Plug Power is the first tenant at the manufacturing park and also will fund the construction of a 450-megawatt electricity substation that will support its hydrogen projection facility and future growth opportunities at STAMP. As North America’s largest green hydrogen production facility, the plant will produce 45 metric tons of green liquid hydrogen daily servicing the Northeast region.
When fully built, the facility will offer the company’s transportation fuel customers pricing competitive to diesel, leading the way to decarbonizing freight transportation and logistics supporting New York’s path to achieving carbon-neutrality by 2050. Additionally, the company has committed to creating up to 68 new jobs.
“Plug Power is proud to be the leaders building the green hydrogen economy, creating jobs right here in our home state of New York,” Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh said. “By 2025, our cross-continental green hydrogen network aims to supply 500 tons per day, and 1,000 tons per day globally by 2028. We thank our elected officials and partners for their leadership.”
The siting of the manufacturing park, and Plug Power’s decision to locate there, was driven primarily by access to low-cost hydropower from the New York Power Authority’s Niagara Power Project less than 30 miles away. The Power Authority is supporting the Plug Power project with the following incentives:
• A 10-megawatt allocation of low-cost hydropower from the Niagara Power Project.
• $1.5 million from the Western New York Power Proceeds program.
• 143 MW of High-Load Factor power that NYPA will procure for Plug Power on the energy market, drastically lowering electric bills through a reduction in electricity delivery charges.
Empire State Development also is supporting the project with up to $2 million in Excelsior Tax Credits in exchange for job creation commitments. Genesee County will provide assistance for the transformative project. Greater Rochester Enterprise Inc. also assisted Plug Power with the project.
“Bringing Plug Power to STAMP demonstrates that our 1,250-acre campus can be a destination for advanced large-scale manufacturing companies such as semi-conductor and renewables manufacturing facilities with continued infrastructure investment from New York State,” said Steve Hyde, Genesee County Economic Development Center president and CEO. “We are confident that Gov. Hochul recognizes the importance of this investment approach in her efforts. Her vision for a sustainable green energy economy for upstate to provide family-sustaining jobs is key to revitalizing our communities now and in the future.”
The Plug Power expansion is part of a focused strategy to construct up to seven hydrogen production facilities across North America by 2022. In January, Plug Power announced that it would be establishing a $125 million Innovation Center in Henrietta, creating 377 new jobs. That facility will manufacture hydrogen fuel cell stacks for its ProGen hydrogen fuel cell engines used to power a variety of electric vehicles, including material handling equipment, on-road commercial fleet vehicles, and drones.
The company also operates a facility in Rochester’s Eastman Business Park and maintains its headquarters in the Capital Region.
“We have worked very hard to bring forward a site suitable for a project of this scale and we look forward to achieving the important steps to develop and advance this project in our community,” said Alabama Town Supervisor Robert Crossen. “This milestone advances the development of the STAMP site, and thanks to Plug Power, Gov. Hochul and Genesee County for making this plan come to fruition. Our town is proud to have worked with our partners to make this project a success and we look forward to more activity at STAMP.”
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