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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Canada-Based Ionomr Innovations Plans Brighton, New York, R&D Center

02/17/2022
Ionomr Innovations, developer and manufacturer of breakthrough ion-exchange membranes and polymers for the hydrogen economy, will establish a U.S. fuel cell and green hydrogen electrolysis research and development center in Brighton, New York. The project is expected to create 50 new jobs over the next five years.

The company will renovate space located at Metro Business Park in Monroe County to create a customer applications test center. Ionomr plans for the facility to be operational by the second quarter of 2022.

"We are pleased to establish our U.S. presence in Rochester and look forward to tapping into the local workforce to build a team here that will be a critical part of fulfilling our mandate to bring advanced materials to market faster and with global reach,” said Ionomr Innovations CEO Bill Haberlin. “Ionomr's membranes and polymers are leading the way in the clean hydrogen economy, addressing the fundamental problems that until now have limited the commercialization of fuel cells, hydrogen electrolysis and green fuels."

Empire State Development is supporting the project with up to $1 million through its Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for job creation commitments. Monroe County, RG&E, and Greater Rochester Enterprise are also offering assistance with Ionomr's growth in the region. The total project cost to update the Mero Park facility has been placed at a little more than $2.7 million. The company had considered further expanding its Canadian operations and additionally explored other U.S. sites ultimately selecting the Monroe County location due to New York state's support.

“New York’s support for innovative clean energy technology is reflected in the decision by Vancouver-based Ionomr to establish an R&D center in the Finger Lakes,” added Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Hope Knight. ESD is proud to partner with this company as it puts down roots in Monroe County and develops new technologies, creating the jobs of tomorrow and strengthening both the regional and state economy."

Founded in Canada in 2018, Ionomr Innovations develops, manufactures and markets next generation ion-exchange membranes and polymers to enable the scaling up of the hydrogen economy. Ionomr's Pemion® and Aemion® technologies provide significant cost, performance and sustainability advantages for fuel cells, green hydrogen production and carbon capture and conversion (CCUS).

“The Greater Rochester, NY region is fast becoming a hub for energy innovation companies,” said Greater Rochester Enterprise President and CEO Matt Hurlbutt. “Vancouver-based Ionomr is the latest company to expand in the Greater Rochester, NY region due to our fuel cell R&D expertise and affordable cost of doing business. The company will leverage the talented workforce available here as well proximity to partners and suppliers.”

New York state's green energy agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy, company officials said. The state incentives provided for this project directly support those efforts and will not only help shift the state toward a carbon neutral economy, fulfilling the goals of New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, but also spur economic recovery from the COVID pandemic.

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