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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Li-Cycle Plans Rochester, New York, Lithium-ion Battery Recycling 'Hub'

09/15/2020
Li-Cycle Incorporated, a North America based lithium-ion battery resource recovery company, will invest over $175 million dollars in a lithium-ion battery recycling 'Hub' on a 15.4-acre parcel of land at Eastman Business Park in Rochester, New York.

This is in addition to its Li-Cycle's first US 'Spoke' operation already located at the park. The company has committed to creating at least 100 new jobs at the Hub, in addition to the 23 who will be working at the current facility.

Li-Cycle Executive Chairman and Co-Founder Tim Johnston said, "We are excited to be able to announce Rochester as the location of Li-Cycle's first commercial Hub refinery. This facility will enable sustainable close loop production of critical materials for the battery industry, such as cobalt, nickel and lithium, right here in North America supporting the development of electric vehicles and other sustainable energy applications. We deeply appreciate the continued support of the local community, government agencies and Kodak in the development of this project."

According to state officials, Li-Cycle selected Eastman Business Park after determining it was the best location for the company to quickly develop the Hub by leveraging existing infrastructure at the park and provide services to its growing client base across the US and beyond.

"This international partnership with Li-Cycle will foster the supply chain of lithium-ion batteries, which are in high demand, and will further expand the thriving energy storage industry in the region," Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "By investing in New York's cleantech economy we are creating quality jobs and supporting our state's clean energy businesses as we build back stronger from the COVID crisis and continue to move the Finger Lakes forward."

Ultimately, the Hub operation in Rochester will receive battery materials from the Rochester Spoke and similar operations across the US, and process them further for use as raw materials in future manufacturing, including for new batteries. ESD is assisting Li-Cycle with up to $5 million through the Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program once the business starts meeting new employment commitments. Monroe County and Greater Rochester Enterprise are also assisting with the project.

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, "Our investment in Li-Cycle's lithium-ion battery recycling facility at Eastman Business Park represents our continued commitment not only to this company, but in broader economic opportunities within the sustainable energy industry. This forward-thinking project will add high-quality jobs in the Finger Lakes region and advance our efforts to establish New York State as a world leader in energy storage."

Founded in 2016 in Ontario, Canada, Li-Cycle has developed and validated a unique process that allows them to recover 80 to 100% of all materials found in lithium-ion batteries while maintaining no wastewater discharge and actualizing the company's zero waste philosophy. In January of 2020, Empire State Development announced that Li-Cycle would establish its first US-based facility in New York State in an effort to tap into the robust lithium-ion battery supply chain and ecosystem in Rochester, New York and the USA. Li-Cycle plans to begin construction on the Hub facility in 2021.

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