The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday it will award Real Alloy potentially $67.3 million. The award helps create construction of the first zero waste salt slag recycling facility in the United States. It will be built at Real Alloy’s Wabash facility on Dimension Avenue. Nine new, highly skilled jobs will be added to the company.
The award comes through the Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. The exact amount of the award will be announced at a later date, according to Department of Energy officials.
“I was very excited when I got the news this morning,” said Wabash Mayor Scott Long. “This is good for the environment, and it is always good to grow business and add jobs.”
The project aims to create the most energy efficient facility of its kind. The project was selected as part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program and is as one of 33 projects to demonstrate commercial-scale, de-carbonization solutions needed to move energy-intensive industries towards net-zero while strengthening local economies, creating and maintaining high-quality jobs, and slashing emissions that could jeopardize public health, according to officials with the Department of Energy.
“We are very proud and excited to be selected by the Department of Energy to bring this game-changing technology to reality in the U.S.,” said Terry Hogan, president and CEO of Real Alloy. “Salt slag recycling closes the loop by allowing all products generated from the recycling of aluminum scrap and dross to be reused. It aligns perfectly with our sustainability strategy of eliminating waste and reducing carbon emissions. We look forward to partnering with the team at the Department of Energy to commercialize this process.”
The project is expected to generate approximately 100 construction jobs as well as securing the existing 33 jobs at the Dimension Avenue location. Real Alloy employs 160 throughout Wabash County, according to Grow Wabash County officials.
Real Alloy is considered one of the industry leaders in third-party aluminum recycling and specification alloy production. The company converts aluminum scrap and by-products into reusable aluminum metal for a growing number of applications across various industries including consumer packaging, automotive, construction, and aerospace. Customers can choose from an extensive range of wrought and cast aluminum products, delivered to their door in the form of liquid metal, ingots, or sows. Liquid metal offers significant advantages in terms of efficiency, CO2 prevention, and cost, according to industry experts.
“I am just thrilled and thankful about this announcement,” said Tenille Zartman, president and CEO of Grow Wabash County. “The whole process is very exciting and I look forward to the future of this project.”
The announcement is part of President Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda investing upwards of $6 billion in these 33 projects across 20 states who are seeking more environmentally friendly manufacturing practices. The investment is funded by the President’s Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
“Spurring on the next generation of de-carbonization technologies in key industries like steel, paper, concrete, and glass will keep America the most competitive nation on Earth,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “Thanks to President Biden’s industrial strategy, DOE (Department of Energy) is making the largest investment in industrial de-carbonization in the history of the United States. These investments will slash emissions from these difficult-to-decarbonize sectors and ensure American businesses and American workers remain at the forefront of the global economy.”
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