Linde, a global leader in industrial gases, proposes to develop a new hydrogen factory in Washington County as part of a $83 million expansion project that will have a significant economic impact on the area.
The new factory, according to Linde, will help the firm fulfill increased demand from aerospace, electronics, manufacturing, and transportation customers by bolstering its supply network. “The new plant in McIntosh will allow us to capture growth opportunities, while further increasing the reliability of our liquid hydrogen supply,” said Todd Lawson, vice president of the East Region for Linde.
Linde said it will utilize a standard plant design for the facility to take advantage of domestically sourced and fabricated equipment to minimize cost and construction risk.
In addition to the trade work during construction, upon completion, the project will create six operational jobs and 10 staff truck drivers.
“Linde’s new investment in rural Washington County is significant because it shows that the company is growing and thriving in Alabama,” Governor Kay Ivey said.
“I am fully committed to helping rural communities across the state secure growth projects, and I know this project will have a positive economic impact on McIntosh.”
The new Alabama plant is expected to start operations in 2024.
GROWTH PLANS
The project will have a “tremendous impact” on the McIntosh town and the neighboring corridor of chemical industries, according to Rosalyn Sales, executive director of economic development for Clarke and Washington counties.
“Linde, in building the hydrogen plant, helps sustain the long-term viability of other chemical plants in our area,” she said.
“A very special thank you to all the hard work and professionalism of our team consisting of the Alabama Department of Commerce, the Alabama Department of Revenue’s Economic Development Division, Alabama Power and CMC GAS.”
“The secret is out — these rural locations are ripe for growth and offer high-performance companies a number of strategic advantages.”
Allen Bailey, chairman of the Washington County Commission, said Linde’s expansion plans represent exciting news for the Southwest Alabama region.
“This project will bring in a number of high-quality jobs for the people of the county, and the economic impact of this expansion will be significant for our area.
“Linde has proved to be a good corporate citizen in the past, and we look forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship,” Bailey said.
Linde’s industrial gases are used in countless applications, from life-saving oxygen for hospitals to high-purity and specialty gases for electronics manufacturing, hydrogen for clean fuels, and much more. The company registered 2021 sales totaling $31 billion.
Brenda Tuck, Rural Development Manager for the Alabama Department of Commerce, said Linde’s investment project in Washington County reflects the attractiveness of rural Alabama locations for business growth.
“Over the past two years, companies from around the world have launched projects involving $2.3 billion in new capital investment in our rural counties,” Tuck said.
“The secret is out — these rural locations are ripe for growth and offer high-performance companies a number of strategic advantages.”