Renewable hydrogen power plant to be built in Clarksville, 100-plus jobs to come
by May 11, 2023 5:19 pm 3,297 views
The city of Clarksville has signed an agreement with Syntex Industries to design and construct the first Syntex Hydrogen Power Plant, which will exceed $250 million in construction costs.
The facility will generate more than 500 MW of emission-free electricity and support Clarksville’s economic development by providing low-cost and renewable electricity to energy-intensive businesses.
The power plant, which will be the first “hydrogen hub” in Arkansas, will create over 100 full-time positions and is expected to break ground by the end of 2023, with limited power production ramping up in 2025. The new facility is expected to be completed in 2026.
The hydrogen plant is expected to be built in phases. The first phase will be an investment of about $250 million based on a 50 MW capacity plant with an annual payroll of close to $9 million, according to officials working on the project.
“Syntex has been working with Clarksville to develop methods to store excess renewable energy and regenerate it on demand. Recent technical developments and federal tax incentives have opened the door at last,” said Clarksville Mayor David Rieder. “This project offers the infrastructure to support our growing economy and bring new high paying ‘ecodustrial’ jobs to the area.”
“Syntex Industries plans to develop the ‘Hydrogen Power Grid’ to support the promise of renewable hydrogen for clean energy and fuels for transportation,” Rieder added. “We are committed to working with Syntex to find innovative solutions that improve the quality of life of our community.”
“Hydrogen offers a practical pathway to reduce greenhouse gases from power generation by storing energy from solar and wind when it would otherwise be unused,” said Tom Waggoner, Managing Director and CEO of Syntex Industries.
“Clarksville is a progressive community that embraces green energy and related environmental initiatives, as evidenced by their highspeed fiber investment and being the first municipality in Arkansas to power all municipal functions on solar. It [hydrogen hub] will be the catalyst for a major energy transition and economic transformation in this part of the state as well as the overall economy.”