FRANKFORT – Kentucky won't get federal stimulus funding for an advanced car battery plant in Hardin County.
A proposed $600 million plant in Hardin County was not on the list of funded projects released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Energy. Instead, President Barack Obama awarded $2.4 billion to 48 other proposals, including $1 billion to companies and universities based in Michigan.
The proposed plant, which Kentucky had pledged to boost with $200 million in state spending, was expected to eventually employ 2,000 workers.
State officials were trying to get part of $2 billion in federal stimulus dollars to help fund the proposed lithium-ion battery plant. A non-profit consortium of more than 50 companies – known as NAATBatt -- had proposed the plant.
Gov. Steve Beshear released a statement about the loss: