Alongside U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Plug Power invited guests to Vista Technology Park, its new 407,000-square-foot fuel cell manufacturing facility in Slingerlands, New York, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Within the next five years, the Vista Technology Park facility will increase the number of jobs in the New York State Capital Region by more than 1,600, which will help the economy. Nearly half of Plug’s 2,957 total employees in the United States—1,472 of whom work in New York—are currently employed there. By the end of the year, the corporation hopes to have added about 4,000 new employees worldwide. Plug commends the quick commissioning of this site. The Company started ground in March 2022, and nine months later, commercial manufacturing got underway.
The state’s clean renewable energy ambitions will be furthered by Plug’s brand-new, top-notch manufacturing and service facility in Albany County, which will generate high-paying opportunities for green-collar workers in the clean energy economy of the twenty-first century. Important provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, such as the new Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit, will also promote the use of clean hydrogen produced in New York State by Plug in a variety of applications, including Plug’s zero-emission fuel cells, and assist in achieving significant decarbonization.
The assembly of Plug’s fuel cell systems that run electric motors for the mobility market is made possible by the advanced automation found in the Vista manufacturing plant. GenDrive, Stationary, and ProGen fuel cell products will all be produced at the Vista factory, which started producing Plug’s GenDrive units in November 2022 and will be completely operational by March 2023.
Plug received $45 million in Green Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits from Empire State Development, a $5 million grant from Albany County, and a $500,000 infrastructure grant from National Grid to support their investment in the new manufacturing site.
Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug, stated, “Plug is thrilled to host Sen. Schumer, Governor Hochul, and other supporters of green hydrogen at our Vista Technology Park in our home state of New York. The Inflation Reduction Act, which extended the Investment Tax Credit for fuel cells and allowed Plug to create the first commercially viable market for hydrogen fuel cell technology, was passed with the help of Senator Schumer. To fulfill the increasing demand from our customers, including Amazon, Home Depot, Walmart, and others, we must expand Plug’s fuel cell manufacturing at Vista.
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy and U.S. Representative Paul Tonko also spoke at the occasion, where they discussed the importance of Plug and green hydrogen in accomplishing our goals regarding climate change and clean energy legislation. Marsh, Senator Schumer, and Governor Hochul were also there.
“Plug’s future in the Capital Region is set to be powered by 1,600 new, well-paying employment in the green energy sector. Sen. Charles Schumer stated, “Today a promise made becomes a promise kept. Almost exactly seven years ago, I stood on the factory floor of Plug Power’s Latham facility, and CEO Andy Marsh promised me that if I could deliver the incentives they needed, like the Investment Tax Credit, we would be cutting ribbons for N.Y. jobs in the decade. “Back then, Plug employed 227 people in the region; today, that number is over 1,100, and the business has promised to hire an additional 1,600 people over the next five years! I commend Plug for this significant investment that will solidify the Capital Region’s position as a global powerhouse for sustainable energy innovation. Today’s new manufacturing facility comes at the ideal time to power America’s fight against climate change, and new federal incentives position Plug to create even more New York jobs for years to come as it builds the 21st-century green hydrogen economy, thanks to the historic investments we just made in the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to spark the hydrogen fuel cell industry.
According to Governor Hochul, New York’s investment in Plug Power is an investment in the state’s sustainable future. Plug Power helps our efforts to build a cleaner, better future for future generations by generating excellent, green jobs in the Capital Region and beyond.
Congressman Paul Tonko remarked, “I’ve long been pleased with Plug’s vision for, and dedication to, global clean energy transition. “Today, hydrogen is the most hotly debated energy topic in Washington, DC. Without the Plug team’s success, this would not have been conceivable. The long-term assurance needed to propel this business into overdrive will be provided by the IRA.
