Hempitecture receives $8.42 million for plant in Hawkins County
The company is an alum of the "Innovation Crossroads" program at ORNL.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $428 million for 14 projects to accelerate domestic clean energy manufacturing in 15 coal communities across the United States. One of those communities is Rogersville in Hawkins County, and the company receiving the funding is an alum of the “Innovation Crossroads” program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Hempitecture Inc., a member of the 2021 cohort, received $8.42 million to create an industrial fiber hemp processing and manufacturing facility to produce high-performing products, with a 60 to 80 percent reduced carbon intensity, for the building materials, packaging, and automotive industry. When completed, the facility will create 25 full-time jobs that are 15 percent above the prevailing hourly rate.
The project, known as Appalachian Green Fiber, will produce a price- and performance-competitive, highly sustainable suite of thermoacoustic products and natural fiber automotive composite materials using locally grown, harvested, and decorticated industrial hemp fiber.
“We’re truly honored to be selected through this highly competitive process that is designed to revitalize communities affected by the clean energy transition,” said Matthew Mead, Hempitecture Chief Executive Officer. “This funding will be allocated to the expansion of our production technology to eastern Tennessee, helping create economic vitality along the agricultural supply chain, leading directly into our decarbonizing materials.”
Hempitecture regional partners include the Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council, East Tennessee Economic Council, and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Tommy Gibbons, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, was the visible presence for Hempitecture during “Innovation Crossroads.” The company is based in Jerome, ID.
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