Graphite One selects Ohio’s Conneaut for EV battery anode facility, strengthening domestic graphite supply chain and reducing U.S. import dependence.
Graphite One has announced its decision to locate its Active Anode Materials (AAM) facility in Conneaut, Ashtabula County, Ohio, shifting from its previously considered site in Trumbull County. This move marks a significant milestone in the company's strategy to establish a vertically integrated U.S.-based supply chain for advanced graphite materials critical to electric vehicle (EV) batteries and energy storage.
The Canadian-based company had initially secured a 50-year lease for 85 acres at the former Defense National Stockpile Center on Warren Avenue in Trumbull County (Weathersfield/Warren) in March 2024, with plans for a $435 million manufacturing plant. However, Graphite One ultimately chose Conneaut due to several strategic advantages offered by the Ashtabula site. These include direct access to Lake Erie and the Great Lakes shipping corridor, multi-line rail connectivity through Canadian National Railway (CN), existing power infrastructure with an on-site substation, and ample capacity for future expansion and scaling. A key factor in terminating the Trumbull County lease was the challenge associated with establishing the necessary power infrastructure within the company's proposed construction timeline at the Warren site.
The consequences of this decision are significant for both regions. Ashtabula County is set to benefit from the substantial investment and the creation of new jobs associated with the manufacturing plant, which aligns with the ongoing transformation of Ohio's "Rust Belt" into a "Battery Belt." For Trumbull County, the decision means the loss of a major manufacturing project and its anticipated economic benefits. Graphite One has confirmed the termination of its lease on the Warren property.
From an economic and industry-specific perspective, the Conneaut facility will produce graphite anode material essential for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage, and emerging data center infrastructure. The facility's Phase One construction is targeted for completion in Q4 2027, with an initial production capacity of 10,000 tonnes annually. This project is integral to Graphite One's broader strategy, which links its Graphite Creek resource in Alaska—identified as the largest graphite deposit in the U.S.—with the Ohio manufacturing hub.
Geopolitically, the establishment of this domestic supply chain is crucial for U.S. national and economic security, as the country is currently 100% import-dependent on foreign graphite, with China dominating over 60% of the global supply. Graphite is designated as a critical mineral by the U.S. Department of the Interior due to its essential role in various technologies and the vulnerability of its supply chain. China's recent export restrictions on graphite underscore the urgency of developing secure domestic sources. The U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) has already increased potential funding for Graphite One's Alaska-to-Ohio supply chain to over $2 billion, highlighting the strategic importance of this initiative.
