Cornerstone gets approval for $500M EV battery solvent plant | Jefferson Parish | nola.com

The Cornerstone chemical company photographed in Waggaman, La., Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)

The Jefferson Parish Council on Wednesday approved the construction of a new $500-million chemical production facility for electric vehicle batteries at Cornerstone’s campus in Waggaman, putting to end a monthslong battle with neighboring residents over the company's controversial requests to expand.

The Council unanimously greenlit an amendment to Cornerstone’s special permitted use to allow Japanese chemical company UBE C1 Chemicals America Inc. to manufacture solvents used in lithium-ion EV batteries, a move Cornerstone says will make its property “greener” and decrease U.S. reliance on Chinese imports.

“This project will be a major economic engine with a minor economic footprint," said Tim Johnson, a consultant for Cornerstone. "We suspect this is the kind of project Jefferson Parish really wants.”

Despite residents showing up in droves to oppose the project at Planning Advisory Board meetings since August — causing the board to delay its vote to recommend approval for months and Cornerstone to largely backtrack on its original request — no one spoke in opposition of the project at Wednesday’s meeting. Five speakers spoke in favor of the measure, including two from Cornerstone.

Cornerstone’s original application included requests to rezone buffer zones that had been in place for over 30 years, which would have allowed the company to expand its industrial footprint within 10 feet of surrounding residences.

The move would have circumvented new industrial zoning regulations passed by the parish last year, including 2,000-foot buffer zone requirements, as Cornerstone’s request was made before those regulations were implemented. Cornerstone had been involved in the creation of the new regulations for years before their passage.

But after the company faced major opposition from residents living near the plant in Waggaman and across the river in River Ridge over environmental and health concerns, the company rolled back its request in September to only ask for the UBE facility to be constructed on its existing property.

Continued opposition and questions from residents in planning board meetings led to more deferrals on the planning board vote, until Oct. 17 when the board voted to recommend approval on the project.

Shawn Ward, director of corporate health, safety, security, environment and sustainability at Cornerstone, said the company will continue to provide information and project updates to its community advisory panel comprised of local residents and surrounding civic associations.

Cornerstone and UBE are stilling waiting to hear back from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality on air permits for the project.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Email Lara Nicholson at [email protected].