Conneaut notched a major industrial win Tuesday when Vancouver-based Graphite One announced plans to build a $1.4 billion electric-vehicle battery materials plant at Conneaut Harbor. City officials and the company say the project could bring roughly 150 to 160 jobs, with construction targeted for completion by the end of 2027.
Site, scale and logistics
To secure the harbor footprint, Graphite One has entered into a license-of-occupation agreement for the Conneaut site with the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad, a subsidiary of Canadian National Railway. The deal gives the project direct access to Lake Erie, multi-line rail connectivity, and an on-site substation, the company said in a news release from PR Newswire. "This site provides the infrastructure, logistics access, and scalability required to support long-term growth," Graphite One Chief Operating Officer Mike Schaffner said in the release.
Local reaction
City leaders framed the pick as a long-sought shot in the arm for the harbor area. The roughly 200-acre site and the projected job numbers were front and center for local officials, and Conneaut City Manager Nick Sanford told News 5 Cleveland that "for industry of this scale to select Conneaut as a site to grow is huge."
Why Warren lost out
Before settling on Conneaut, Graphite One had planned a facility near Warren but terminated that lease after concluding the Warren property lacked the power infrastructure needed to meet its construction timeline, according to Business Journal Daily. Regional business groups say the episode underscores how critical ready power, rail access, and shovel-ready sites have become in the race for battery supply-chain projects.
Where this fits in the bigger picture
The Conneaut plant is being pitched as one link in a vertically integrated U.S. graphite supply chain tied to Graphite One's Graphite Creek resource in Alaska. According to a release from PR Newswire, Phase One would deliver about 10,000 tonnes per year with a fourth-quarter 2027 completion target, followed by a planned Phase Two expansion. On the financing side, the Export-Import Bank earlier amended Letters of Interest that include up to $1.4 billion for the Ohio facility, according to EXIM.
Next steps and timeline
Graphite One will complete due diligence and work to formalize lease and power arrangements before moving ahead, and construction and development remain subject to financing, permitting, and equipment procurement, regional reporting says. The Vindicator notes CEO Anthony Huston called the Conneaut selection "a defined path" toward production while stressing that standard development hurdles remain.
