On Feb. 28, the LG/Honda electric vehicle battery plant in Fayette County held a topping-out ceremony when the final steel beam was put in place.
The joint venture reached this milestone as they prepared to hire the 2,200 workers needed to operate the plant.
This project will create thousands of construction jobs and permanent jobs. All the trades, including Sheet Metal Workers Local 24 will be working on the project.
“Today is an important milestone for the LG Energy Solution-Honda team as the structure of the EV battery production facility takes its final shape,” Bob Lee, CEO of the joint venture said in a prepared statement.
The structure can be seen along Interstate 71 about 45 minutes southwest of Columbus.
Battery plant construction still on schedule
With the final steel beam in place, construction of the 2 million-square-foot plant is on track to be finished this year.
The $4.5 billion project is being constructed under a Project Labor Agreement and is currently on time and under budget.
This spring will focus on the siding, roof and final concrete slabs as well as the interior of the building, including the heating and cooling systems, electrical, plumbing and duct work.
Later this spring, equipment will begin being installed in the plant. In the fall, the last tasks for the plant will be finalized, which include conducting tests on the samples produced by the plant to ensure they meet quality, safety and other specified standards.
Rick Riggle, COO of the joint venture, said everything has been going as planned thanks to the three contractors who came together to build the project: Turner Construction, Kokosing Industrial and Yates Construction.
Local 24 members will play an integral role in making sure this project remains on schedule.
The battery plant will begin producing batteries for Honda and Acura electric vehicles in 2025.