Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) is building a new lithium-ion battery facility in Davidson County, North Carolina. The company plans to invest $233 million at the Davidson site by the end of 2030. The location choice comes on the heels of North Carolina’s determined investment in clean energy production. The Tar Heel State offered DNP a Job Development Investment Grant, including potential reimbursements of more than $2.7 million over a 12-year period, dependent on verification that the firm has met investment and employment creation targets.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has created a statewide goal of recruiting more Japanese clean energy companies to the state. In fact, he led a delegation of North Carolina officials to an annual economic conference in Tokyo with the goal of recruiting more Japanese companies for good-paying jobs for North Carolina residents.
The DNP project approval means nearly 400 new jobs for the community and a positive economic impact on the entire state. Initial hiring will begin in 2026, offering an average annual wage of $50,281.
Photo Courtesy North Carolina Department of Commerce
“Over thousands of miles of land and sea and several generations, North Carolina’s relationship with Japan has grown strong and resolute, producing valuable successes for our people,” Cooper said in a press release. “We look forward to continuing to work together to bring success to both the Southeastern United States and Japan through this valuable partnership.”
The new facility is just one of the numerous new operations in what is being called the “Battery Belt,” a group of states east of the Mississippi River, from the Great Lakes to Georgia, who have made commitments to attracting new clean energy battery plants.
These states are hopeful that clean energy production facilities will encourage a growing trained workforce and emerging educational programs for all residents.
The Davidson County DNP site will focus on producing lithium-ion battery pouches to power electric vehicles (EVs). They are a distinct style of lithium-ion batteries that serve as alternatives to harder cylindrical cell designs.
The basic design includes the cell chemistry contained in an aluminum foil pouch. Inside, the positive and negative sides are separated with a polymer film.
Photo Courtesy North Carolina Department of Commerce
DNP will benefit from the new bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act, which requires that at least half of a vehicle’s EV battery components be produced in the U.S. to qualify for a federal tax credit. According to Canary Media analysis, in August 2023, “more than 100 new clean energy manufacturing facilities or factory expansions were announced in the U.S. since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed” in August 2022 — nearly $80 billion in new investment.
“From the east to the west, North Carolina’s electric vehicle industry is growing exponentially,” Machelle Baker Sanders, North Carolina Commerce secretary, said in a statement. “Our natural resources and our reputation for highly skilled talent and strong transportation infrastructure, continue to attract global leaders, like DNP, that share our commitment to sustainability.”
