Plug Power Inc. has officially opened its new, $125 million Innovation Center in the Town of Henrietta, Monroe County, a suburb of Rochester. NY. Governor Kathy Hochul attended an official opening event last week.
“Plug Power is a key partner in New York State’s efforts to move both the state and the nation toward a more renewable future,” Governor Hochul said. “The state-of-the-art Innovation Center will help to further establish New York State as a green energy leader. This innovative company’s continued investment in statewide expansion is truly a testament to their commitment to create new, green jobs and to boost economic growth in their home state.”
Plug Power has established the world’s first ever Gigafactory for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology where it will manufacture hydrogen fuel cell stacks and electrolyzers. The fuel cell stacks are used in its ProGen hydrogen fuel cell engines, which are used to power a variety of electric vehicles, including material handling equipment, on-road commercial fleet vehicles, and drones. The electrolyzers are utilized in the generation of green hydrogen from renewable electricity. The company is planning to create up to 377 new jobs at the John Street facility due to the support of Empire State Development, which is providing up to $13 million in Excelsior Tax Credits, and the New York Power Authority, which is providing 5.1 megawatts of low-cost ReCharge NY power. Monroe County, Rochester Gas and Electric, and Greater Rochester Enterprise also assisted with the project.
Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power said, “We are pleased to welcome distinguished guests to the world’s first PEM stack and electrolyzer Plug Power Innovation Center, here in New York State’s Monroe County. This Rochester gigafactory positions Plug Power, and the region, as global leaders in PEM technology, driving scale and industry transformation in the global green hydrogen economy. I’d like to thank Governor Hochul, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Joe Morelle, Empire State Development, NYPA, RG & E, Monroe County and Greater Rochester Enterprise for supporting and enabling us to grow jobs in Rochester, NY.”
Plug Power recently broke ground on a $290 million, state-of-the-art, green hydrogen fuel production facility and electricity substation at the Western New York Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) located in the Town of Alabama, Genesee County. The company, the first tenant at the manufacturing park, is also funding the construction of a 450-megawatt electricity substation on site that will support its hydrogen projection facility and future growth opportunities at STAMP.
In 2019, Plug Power announced plans to expand its presence in New York State, investing $3.7 million to establish a Membrane Electrode Assemblies facility in Rochester’s Eastman Business Park, creating more than 80 new jobs. The company had also previously announced an expansion plan in the Capital Region committing to investing nearly $6.5 million to create more than 180 jobs statewide.
