$712M utility battery investment is largest jobs project in Ky since 2022

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Today, Gov. Andy Beshear was joined by local leaders and executives from Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Canadian e-Storage, to announce the largest economic development project in Shelby County’s history and the largest jobs announcement in the commonwealth in more than two years. The nearly $712 million project creating 1,572 skilled, high-tech jobs represents the third-largest project for job creation during the administration and the fourth-largest investment.

“I want to thank Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing for their investment in Kentucky and the Shelbyville community,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is the single largest investment and job creation announcement we have on record for Shelby County, and it is the largest project Kentucky has seen this year. This project will solidify our role as a leader in the country’s energy storage sector and will transform our economy, creating opportunities for Kentucky families for generations.”

The project will establish a state-of-the-art, 6-gigawatt hour battery cell, module and packaging manufacturing facility in a 1 million-square-foot building located on Logistics Drive in Shelbyville. These self-contained energy storage systems will be packaged into modular, containerized utility-scale batteries. Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing will support e-Storage’s rapidly growing U.S. energy storage business and deliver American-made energy storage solutions to customers throughout the United States.

Production at the Shelbyville plant is expected to begin by the end of 2025.

The investment adds to Kentucky’s significant growth in battery-related production. Since the start of the administration, Gov. Beshear has announced projects across every phase of the electric vehicle lifecycle, from production of batteries and their components to recycling. The addition of utility-scale energy storage production represents further investment in emerging technologies and diversification of Kentucky’s battery-related industries.

“We are proud to be a part of the growing energy technology transformation across the U.S., and we are thrilled to announce our investment in a new, state-of-the-art industrial battery cell, module and packaging plant in Shelbyville, Kentucky that will employ over 1,500 Kentuckians,” said Colin Parkin, president of e-Storage. “This new plant will allow us to provide our U.S. customers with cutting-edge, American-made battery energy storage products.”

e-Storage, based in Ontario, Canada, is a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and integration of battery energy storage systems for utility-scale applications.

Senate President Robert Stivers noted the collaboration that has resulted in Kentucky’s recent economic success: “This is a special day in Kentucky as we celebrate another major investment in our people and our workforce. The General Assembly has worked to foster a pro-business environment in Kentucky, making us an attractive destination for global companies. We’ll continue this work, alongside Gov. Beshear, to keep bringing opportunity to our citizens.”

Shelby County Judge/Executive Dan Ison said this is a game-changing project for Kentucky: “Today is a great day for the people of Shelby County, and for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Today, we’re taking a major step toward a brighter future for our community. We’re showing that in Kentucky, when we work together for our citizens, we can achieve amazing things.”

Shelbyville Mayor H. Troy Ethington welcomed the company to the area: “We’re excited to welcome Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing to our community. This new venture marks a significant step in strengthening our local economy and creating high-quality jobs for our residents. Shelbyville continues to grow as a hub for innovation, and we’re proud to support industries that prioritize sustainability and technological advancement. We look forward to the positive impact Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing will bring to our city and commonwealth for years to come.”

Shelby County Industrial and Development Foundation President and CEO Ray Leathers mentioned the impact of the project: “Shelby County Industrial & Development Foundation is proud and excited to welcome Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing to our community, becoming our largest industrial employer ever! Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing has unquestionably established Shelby County, along with our 84 other industries, as a national commerce center at the crossroads of America.”

The president and CEO of Shelby Energy, Jack Bragg, said the project will have a major impact on the region: “We are so excited to welcome Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing into our Shelby Energy and Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives family. From the company’s initial visits to Shelbyville, we knew right away that the synergies and timings associated with the project were aligning to help bring this transformational project to fruition in Shelby County.”

Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s investment and job creation build on the best four-year period for economic growth in state history.