T he International Energy Agency projects that electric vehicles will account for more than 15% of U.S. car sales by 2030, and the number of publicly-available EV chargers will rise that year to more than 800,000, from 98,981 in 2020. More automakers are preparing for the projected increase in popularity of electric vehicles by planning to manufacture their own EV batteries. Ford said in September that it and SK Innovation will invest a combined $11.4 billion for a new EV and battery plant in Tennessee and two EV battery plants in Kentucky. The 3,600-acre Stanton, Tenn., campus will also include an on-site wastewater treatment plant and recycling facilities. On Oct. 18, Toyota announced plans to invest $3.4 billion in EV battery development and production in the U.S. through 2030, including the construction of a plant at an unspecified location, and on the same day Stellantis and LG Energy Solution also announced they had formed a joint venture for battery manufacturing. Stellantis and LG are reviewing locations for a North American plant that will break ground in the second quarter of 2022.

Intel Corp.

Arizona Fab Expansion

Intel broke ground on its two new semiconductor plants, known as “fabs,” on Oct. 1 at its 700-acre Chandler, Ariz., campus. The $20-billion project will use 400,000 cu yd of concrete and 40,000 tons of steel. Jacobs Engineering is the designer and Hoffman Construction is the general contractor. Intel says the project will support about 3,000 construction jobs.

The Boeing Company

MQ-25 Stingray Facility

Boeing announced plans in September to build a $200-million plant where it will manufacture MQ-25 Stingray drones for the U.S. Navy. The 300,000-sq-ft facility will be located at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Illinois. Boeing has already been conducting test flights out of the airport for the MQ-25, which is the Navy’s first autonomous carrier-based aircraft. The Stingray is used for refueling other aircraft, and has surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Construction is expected to finish in 2024.

Ball Corp.

Beverage Can Plant

Aluminum packaging manufacturer Ball Corporation is building a $290-million multi-line beverage packaging plant in North Las Vegas, Nev., the company announced in September. Ball says it chose the location for its proximity to customers, increasing regional demand, local infrastructure and labor base, plus the cooperation of state and local officials. The plant will supply a range of can sizes for beverage customers. Production is scheduled to start in late 2022.

Great Lakes Cheese Co.

N.Y. Cheese Plant

Great Lakes Cheese announced in September that it will build a $500-million cheese manufacturing and packaging plant in Franklinville, N.Y., to replace a smaller plant nearby in Cuba, N.Y. Construction of the 500,000 sq-ft facility is scheduled to start in the spring of 2022 and expected to complete in early 2025. Discussions are underway to find new uses for the smaller plant.