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Plans scaled back for producing EV battery materials in Hopkinsville as federal grant is canceled

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2 months ago

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kentuckylantern.com – Jennifer P. Brown, Hoptown Chronicle – 2025-03-03 06:45:00

Plans scaled back for producing EV battery materials in Hopkinsville as federal grant is canceled

by Jennifer P. Brown, Hoptown Chronicle, Kentucky Lantern
March 3, 2025

Ascend Elements, the electric vehicle battery materials manufacturer that is constructing a plant in Hopkinsville’s Commerce Park II, is scaling back some of its plans for production at the local facility. 

Ascend and the U.S. Department of Energy mutually agreed to cancel a $164 million federal grant for part of the manufacturing infrastructure at the company’s Apex 1 facility, the company announced.

Because of “changing market conditions,” Ascend is canceling plans at the Hopkinsville facility for production of cathode active material, or CAM, a main component in lithium-ion batteries. However, it will produce precursor cathode active material, or pCAM, and lithium carbonate in Hopkinsville. 

A separate $316 million Department of Energy grant for the pCAM infrastructure at Ascend remains active, according to the company’s statement. According to federal spending records, Ascend has received $205 million of that grant. 

Initially, company representatives and local and state economic development officials said the plant would employ 250 workers, based on a $310 million investment. 

However, days before a ground-breaking ceremony in October 2022, federal officials announced additional investments with $480 million in Department of Energy grant funds — $164 million for CAM manufacturing infrastructure and $316 million for pCAM manufacturing infrastructure. The grant came from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed during President Joe Biden’s administration. 

“It’s the largest economic development project in Christian County,” Gov. Andy Beshear said at the ground-breaking ceremony. “And now … the largest investment in Western Kentucky.”

Officials projected that future expansion could push the project to a $1 billion investment employing 400 or more people.

It was not immediately clear how eliminating the CAM infrastructure line will affect the size of Ascend’s workforce. 

“We are grateful to the U.S. DOE for selecting Ascend Elements to receive this funding, but current market conditions do not support advancement of the CAM project at Apex 1,” said Roger Lin, vice president of government affairs at Ascend Elements. “We are 100% committed to completing construction of the Apex 1 campus in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, but the facility will only produce pCAM and lithium carbonate, a critical mineral. We’re just not seeing significant market demand for CAM right now, but we have buyers lined up to purchase sustainable, domestically produced pCAM and lithium carbonate.” 

Ascend’s Apex 1 facility is projected to be operational in the third quarter of 2026.

This story is republished from Hoptown Chronicle.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.

The post Plans scaled back for producing EV battery materials in Hopkinsville as federal grant is canceled appeared first on kentuckylantern.com

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Unsettled through Derby

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8 hours ago

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April 30, 2025

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www.youtube.com – WLKY News Louisville – 2025-04-30 20:15:50

SUMMARY: The weather forecast includes a tornado watch for far northwestern communities like Jackson and Lawrence counties, effective until 11 PM. Scattered storms have started to develop due to high heat and humidity. The Steamboat Race is about to begin near the Ohio River, with dry conditions so far but some storms may pop up nearby. Temperatures are around 84°F with 50% humidity and a light southwest breeze. Evening storms are expected mainly along I-64 and points north. Wednesday night will quiet down, but Thursday will see scattered storms again, especially in the afternoon. Rain chances continue through Derby week, but mostly in periodic showers with plenty of dry times. The unsettled pattern will likely ease by next week.

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Unsettled through Derby

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More unsettled weather on the way to kick off May

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13 hours ago

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April 30, 2025

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www.wtvq.com – T.G. Shuck – 2025-04-30 15:12:00

SUMMARY: Severe weather is expected to return on Thursday, with a cold front moving through the Ohio Valley and re-energizing the atmosphere, creating conditions for strong to severe storms, including damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. All of Central and Eastern Kentucky is under a Level 2 (Slight Risk) for severe weather. The storms will be fueled by gusty southwest winds, pushing temperatures into the low 80s. For Oaks Day (Friday), scattered showers and storms are likely, and the forecast for Derby Day (Saturday) is uncertain, with possible lingering clouds and showers. Temperatures will be cooler, staying in the mid-60s for the weekend.

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The post More unsettled weather on the way to kick off May appeared first on www.wtvq.com

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California, Arizona, other states sue to protect AmeriCorps from cuts | California

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1 day ago

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April 29, 2025

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Dave Mason | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-29 19:00:00

(The Center Square) – California and Arizona Tuesday joined 22 other states and the District of Columbia to sue the Trump administration to stop cuts in AmeriCorps’ grants and workforce.

The lawsuit objects to the federal government reducing 85% of the workforce for the agency, which promotes national service and volunteer work addressing disaster recovery and other community needs. 

According to americorps.gov, the agency enrolls more than 200,000 people each year in community service organizations. AmeriCorps also provides more than $4.8 billion in education awards.

Besides California and Arizona, states filing the suit are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. 

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in February directing every federal agency to reduce its staff. Since then, AmeriCorps has placed at least 85% of its workforce on administrative leave immediately and told employees they would be dismissed effective June 24, according to a news release from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

The states’ lawsuit contends the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce AmeriCorps and its grants violate the Administrative Procedures Act and the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution.

California is co-leading the lawsuit against the Trump administration.

“In California, AmeriCorps volunteers build affordable housing, clean up our environment, and address food insecurity in communities across our state,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. “California has repeatedly taken action to hold the Trump Administration and DOGE accountable to the law — and we stand prepared to do it again to protect AmeriCorps and the vital services it provides.”

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office said the cuts in AmeriCorps affect grants such as:

  • $700,000 for Northern Arizona University, Arizona Teacher’s Residency, designed to address teacher shortages.
  • $308,000 for Area Agency on Aging, Caring Circles, which helps older Arizonans with needs such as transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping and help with technology.
  • $495,000 for Vista College Prepartory’s tutoring and teacher support for math and reading for low-income students.

“AmeriCorps represents the best of our nation – providing opportunities for millions of Americans to serve their neighbors and communities and make our country a better place to live,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said. “By unilaterally gutting this Congressionally authorized agency, Donald Trump and Elon Musk have yet again violated the law and the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution. Their illegal actions will harm Arizona communities.”

Mayes noted studies show AmeriCorps programs generate more than $34 per every dollar spent in terms of their impact on communities.

“Slashing these programs serves no purpose and is incredibly short-sighted from those claiming to champion efficiency,” she said.

The post California, Arizona, other states sue to protect AmeriCorps from cuts | California appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article reports on a legal action filed by multiple states against the Trump administration over cuts to AmeriCorps, without offering an overt ideological stance. The content outlines the details of the lawsuit, the parties involved, and their claims. The language used is largely factual, describing the positions of the states, particularly California and Arizona, without endorsing one side. While the article highlights the perceived impacts of the cuts and quotes politicians critical of the Trump administration, it refrains from promoting an explicit viewpoint, focusing instead on reporting the legal and administrative actions at hand. The tone remains neutral and provides an equal space to both the states’ concerns and the implications of the lawsuit. It primarily serves as a factual report on the legal challenge, rather than an advocacy piece, and does not adopt a partisan perspective on the issue.

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