Johnson Controls has public meeting on new facility

FLORENCE — Johnson Controls Inc.’s plans to locate a new battery recycling center were on display Monday during the company’s first public meeting on the facility that is expected to bring 250 jobs to the Pee Dee and an initial capital investment of more than $100 million.

In an effort to inform the public of new facility, representatives were on hand to answer questions about Johnson Controls’ plans to increase its presence in South Carolina, where the company is in the process of completing the project; why the company is locating the center in Florence; the environmental impact the facility will have on the area; and the company’s efforts to get public input.

Representatives were Sarah Caggiano, plant manager for the Southeastern Distribution Center in Florence; Ron Weller, vice president of global operations for Johnson Controls Power Solutions; Tim Lafond, executive director of environmental, engineering and risk management for Johnson Controls Power Solutions; and Brian Kesseler, vice president and general manager for Johnson Controls Power Solutions.

Johnson Controls has started the permit process and is working with state and federal agencies to ensure the facility is in compliance with local, state and federal regulations.

Caggiano said the company is in the permit application process and once all permits are approved, the company can begin to move forward with the design, construction and recruiting phases.

Kesseler said the new facility, which will be located on a 270-acre site on Paper Mill Road off U.S. 76, near such facilities as Roche Carolina, DuPont and Smurfit-Stone, is important to have because there is a gap in recycling capacity in the Carolinas.

The area generates about 13 million spent automotive batteries each year, he said.

“Auto batteries is one of, if not the most, recyclable (product) at the consumer level,” Kesseler said. “(More than) 99 percent of the material in a spent battery is recycled and reused to create new batteries.

“What we’re able to do is make sure with that supply of spent batteries we’re able to have a very cost-effective way of making new batteries and we also make sure we’re doing it right from a recycling standpoint and an environmental standpoint,” he said. “We think it’s good for Florence, we think it’s good for the company and we’re excited to be back because we had a great experience with Florence.”

Johnson Controls officials said every part of the battery is recycled — from the post-consumer lead and polypropylene to the iron by-products — in a process called closed-loop.

The company plans to develop about 36 acres for its state-of-the-art and environmentally-friendly facility and parking, leaving the remaining acreage undeveloped.

Portions of the site will be permanently protected through a conservation easement.

The company also has plans to participate in the state Department of Natural Resources Stewardship Program.

A Citizen’s Advisory Group has been established to help informed the public about the center’s impact on the community.

“We’ve learned a lot and continue to work with our existing recycling partners and our facility with the technology that we’re choosing will meet and probably exceed the new Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for lead and air,” Kesseler said. “Johnson Controls is very serious about our environmental stewardship. We’re committed to ensuring that we remain a good citizen in all the local communities we do business in.”

On the Web

Johnson Controls Inc., http://www.johnsoncontrols.com

Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology, http://www.simt.com