Fortune 100 company Johnson Controls will invest more than $100 million to build an automotive battery recycling facility in Florence County, South Carolina, according to state commerce officials. At least 250 new jobs are planned with the project. The Wisconsin-headquartered company plans to construct the plant on 36 acres of a 270-acre site, leaving portions of the remaining acreage permanently protected through a conservation easement. "The proposed Florence facility will be the most innovative battery recycling operation in the world," says Alex Molinaroli, president of Johnson Control Power Solutions. "Our closed-loop system is state-of-the-art in terms of environmental controls, conforming well within all federal, state, and local environmental standards." Regarding the location decision, Molinaroli tells the Florence News, "I grew up in Charleston, and I graduated from USC. I know firsthand that South Carolinians care about hard work, giving back to their communities, and protecting their natural environment. We share those commitments. That's why our company feels at home here." Johnson Controls has two other facilities in South Carolina. State officials did not release information regarding financial incentives.
