Batteries a big win for Brighton

Lithium-ion cell manufacturer plans

775,000 square-foot facility

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A national manufacturer of the lithium-ion batteries used to power electric vehicles and wearable battery packs will locate its gigawattscale manufacturing plant in Brighton, at 18875 E. Bromley Lane.

e plans for the 775,000-squarefoot facility were announced by the company and Colorado Governor Jared Polis March 6. e company’s say the new plant should begin operation in 2025.

“We need more batteries to power the future, and now we will be manufacturing more of them right here in Colorado. We are excited to welcome Amprius to Colorado, bringing over 300 new good-paying jobs, and joining Colorado’s innovative and collaborative business community,” Polis said in a written statement.

Amprius, based in Fremont, California, began making silicon anodes for high-density lithium-ion batteries in 2008. e company holds more than 75 patents for the batteries, their parts and the manufacturing process.

ose batteries are used for electric cars, trucks and electric drones, high-altitude gliders used for mapping called “pseudo-satellites” and electric air transportation vehicles. Customers included the U.S. Army, Airbus and BAE Systems. e plant will replace the Sears/ KMart Distribution facility just north of the Adams County building. at facility closed in 2021. It’s just west of U.S. 76 Brighton exit.

“ e selection of Colorado for our gigawatt factory marks an important milestone for Amprius,” said Dr. Kang Sun, Chief Executive O cer of Amprius Technologies. “We worked closely with the State of Colorado, the Colorado Economic Development Commission, Adams County, and the City of Brighton to align on terms that are mutually bene cial, which includes a comprehensive incentive proposal.” e rst phase of the expansion is expected to create 332 net new jobs in Brighton with an average annual wage of $68,516. at’s part of a cost-sharing demonstration grant from Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support domestic battery production.

Amprius also selected the Brighton, Colorado location because of its potential to streamline timeto-market and support e ective customer ful llment. e site’s size, its proximity to essential materials, the transportation structure and the electric power and structural layout are expected to help reduce buildout costs as well as logistical and operational costs. Additional acreage at the site also has the potential to enable future expansions for a total potential manufacturing capacity of 10 GWh.

Amprius plans to invest $190 million, including a $50 million cost-sharing grant from the U.S.

Department of Energy’s O ce of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, to provide a potential capacity of up to 5 gigawatt hours .

Brighton also stepped up to lure the company in, o ering a ve-year rebate of all property taxes the city would collect — about $85,000 per year. e city also agreed to rebate half of the use tax that would be paid on construction materials for the site’s renovation.

In all, Brighton Communications Director Kristen Chernosky said the city’s incentives add up to about $929,050.

“Brighton City Council and the City of Brighton leadership team are excited to welcome Amprius

Technologies Inc. to our community,” said Robin Martinez, president and CEO of the Brighton Economic Development Corporation. “We have a highly-skilled workforce and a collaborative regional approach to attracting and supporting new and existing companies in Brighton.” e Adams County Board of County Commissioners is also scheduled to consider an economic development incentive agreement at a March 14 public meeting.

“We are happy to welcome Amprius to Adams County and look forward to a continued partnership as they grow and develop their innovative battery technology right here in Brighton,” Board Chair Steve O’Dorisio said. “ e jobs they create will not only bene t our current local residents but also help to expand future career paths in the renewable energy sector.”