LANCASTER, Ohio — Lancaster has found itself at the center of a pivotal development in the battery recycling and critical materials supply chain sector. Cirba Solutions, a leader in battery recycling materials and management, has announced significant advancements that will have a profound impact both locally and nationally.
On June 13, 2024, David Klanecky, CEO & President of Cirba Solutions, testified before the House Energy & Commerce Committee, specifically the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials, at the Rayburn Office Building in Washington, D.C.
Klanecky’s testimony highlighted the urgent need for a reliable domestic supply chain for critical materials and emphasized the role of recycling in achieving this goal.
Cirba Solutions’ Lancaster facility is set to play a crucial role in this initiative. The facility will produce 30D-compliant material, enabling consumers and automotive manufacturers to benefit from tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act. This marks a significant step toward reducing the United States’ reliance on foreign sources for critical materials, particularly those essential for the growing electric vehicle market.
Cirba Solutions plans to invest over $2 billion in the battery recycling sector, with significant investments directed toward its Lancaster facility. This project is expected to bring nearly 500 jobs to the market by 2028.
This move is backed by the Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) grant program, making Cirba Solutions the first company to receive funding under this initiative. The funded project will focus on bringing critical battery-grade metal sulfates to the North American market, a milestone that has not been achieved at a commercial scale before.
With China currently dominating the global supply of lithium chemicals and rare earth elements, the onshoring of manufacturing and creation of a domestic supply chain is crucial, officials say.
Cirba Solutions states that by expanding domestically sourced and processed materials for the battery supply chain, these initiatives aim to attract more cathode and lithium-ion battery manufacturing to North America, further solidifying the region’s role in the global market.
For Lancaster, this means more jobs, economic growth, and a significant place in the broader narrative of environmental sustainability and national security.
