Facility opens to produce new material invented in the Tri-State

BOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) - ExxonMobil and ACP Technology cut the ribbon Tuesday at a facility in Ashland that will be producing a new carbon-based material used in lithium-ion batteries, which are used to power things like electric cars, data centers, and aerospace equipment.

The material was invented just a few miles away from the new facility, by Grayson native Donald P. Malone. Malone passed away in 2019, but his family was on hand for the occasion.

“He was never happier than when he had a project and was always so proud that this might grow to this kind of fruition and do it so close to his home,” Jill York, Malone’s daughter-in-law, said.

“To the family, this is a validation of a lot of many years of hard work, a lot of theoretical what-ifs, and a lot of bringing all of the right people to the table, like the wonderful crew at ACPT and also with ExxonMobil,” York continued. “All of the right folks sitting around a table working on one project and magnificent things can happen.”

According to a press release, “this pilot facility will be used to produce carbon-based materials that ExxonMobil plans to use as a precursor for battery grade graphite, strengthening the nation’s production of critical minerals for lithium-ion batteries, which can be used in electric vehicles, data centers, aerospace and defense.”

Congressman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) also attended the ceremony, saying he is proud to see innovation from the region make such an impact nationwide. He added that he’s proud the project is keeping jobs in the area rather than them going elsewhere.

According to Rogers’s office, it will create more than 20 new jobs.

“This is what I started out to do 46 years ago when I ran and was elected to Congress,” Rogers told WSAZ. “My goal was to create jobs to bring our people back. And this is the realization of a dream of mine. To see the great quality individuals that are going to be staying here.”

According to Rogers, the site was selected because Malone invented the material nearby.

“Eastern Kentucky innovation is leading the nation once again, giving us the opportunity to display the power of our engineering excellence and how it can be used with new emerging technologies,” Rogers said. “It’s even more exciting to know that this technology was birthed in Ashland by a native of Grayson, Kentucky, the late Donald P. Malone. It was an honor to celebrate the fruition of his handiwork, alongside his family today.”

Malone’s family told WSAZ they hoped Tuesday’s milestone would make him proud.

“It makes his family very proud, and I’m sure he is smiling at us and saying, way to go, now let’s get it running,” York said.