Zinc8 president Ron MacDonald, left, surround by Ulster County elected officials, gives Gov. Kathy Hochul a pen during a visit to iPark 87 in the town of Ulster on Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at iPark 87, the former Tech City (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Zinc8 Energy Solutions has inked a deal to bring its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility to iPark 87. The Canadian-based firm, which manufactures rechargeable zinc-based fuel cells that are in either 20-foot or 40-foot containers, has signed a letter of intent to lease roughly 237,000 square feet of warehouse and outdoor space to become an anchor business at the new industrial park being created by National Resources, a Connecticut real estate investment company that is redeveloping the former TechCity site.
In exchange for promising to make a $68 million investment at the site over five years to create 500 jobs, Zinc8 will receive $9 million in Excelsior Jobs tax credits.
The move was heralded at a press conference Thursday with Gov. Kathy Hochul saying the deal to bring clean energy manufacturing to the site marks “a rebirth, a renaissance of this property which is going to be a catalyst for many businesses to follow.”
She said it also enables the state to continue to position itself as “a national, global leader to fight climate change.”
“This is a catalyst for change,” said Hochul.
“Ultimately, we’re going to be held responsible to future generations for what we did in this time,” she said.
“This generation may be the first feeling the effects of climate change, it’s also the last one that can do anything about it and we will seize that moment,” Hochul said.
Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, who has long been a leader in the efforts to combat climate change, said the decision by Zinc8 to move to Ulster County is the result of the state Climate Act she worked to pass while a state senator.
“New York’s climate law is one of the most forward-looking in the country and I have often spoken about the tremendous economic benefits to our communities of leading on climate in our state,” she said. “With companies Zinc8 coming to Ulster, we are not seeing the fruits of this law materialize.”
Metzger said the county is working on a major workforce development initiative designed to train Ulster County residents so they will be prepared to benefit from the job opportunities that will be created.
“To me, this is a massive win, not just for Ulster County, but for the whole region,” said U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan in an interview Thursday.
As Ulster County executive, Ryan made the revitalization of TechCity a major priority, fighting to foreclose on the property for back taxes and then facilitating the sale of the site to National Resources.
In August, Ryan joined U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, who said he had reached out to Zinc8 CEO Ron MacDonald personally to lobby the company to move to Ulster County, to announce that with the help of funding through the Inflation Reduction Act, the company was eyeing the former IBM site for its manufacturing facility.
“Zinc8’s 500 good-paying jobs and $68 million in cutting-edge manufacturing investment is proof positive that when you invest in fighting climate change, you can create good-paying jobs, new economic growth, and a brighter future for our communities,” Schumer said in a release Thursday.
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
President, CEO, and Director of Zinc8 Energy Solutions Ron MacDonald speaks at Governor Kathy Hochul visit to i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at iPark 87, the former TechCity. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Zinc8 president Ron MacDonald, left, surrounded by Ulster County elected officials, holds a document showing the endorsement of Gov. Kathy Hochul during a visit to iPark 87 in the town of Ulster on Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, where she announced that the Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company was to locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the former Tech City (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
The iPark 87 foot bridge in the town of Ulster on Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, when Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, was to locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the former TechCity. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
President, CEO, and Director of Zinc8 Energy Solutions Ron MacDonald speaks at Governor Kathy Hochul visit to iPark 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at iPark 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Zinc8 president Ron MacDonald, left, surround by Ulster County elected officials, gives Gov. Kathy Hochul a pen during a visit to iPark 87 in the town of Ulster on Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at iPark 87, the former Tech City (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
President, CEO, and Director of Zinc8 Energy Solutions Ron MacDonald speaks at Governor Kathy Hochul visit to iPark 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the iPark 87, the former TechCity. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited iPark 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at iPark 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
President, CEO, and Director of Zinc8 Energy Solutions Ron MacDonald and Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger speak at Governor Kathy Hochul's visit to i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Town of Ulster Supervisor James Quigley, left, wearing an orange jacket, sits down with officials and others during a visit by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul at iPark 87 in the town of Ulster on Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the site, the former TechCity and IBM facility. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Joseph Cotter, Co-Founder of National Resources and owner of i-Park 87 introduces Governor Kathy Hochul who visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Joseph Cotter, Co-Founder of National Resources and owner of i-Park 87 speaks at Governor Kathy Hochul visit to i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023, where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
Governor Kathy Hochul visited i-Park 87 in the town of Ulster Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2023 where she announced that Zinc8 Energy Systems, a Canadian zinc battery manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and U.S. headquarters in Ulster County at the i-Park 87, the former Tech City. (Tania Barricklo/Daily Freeman)
