Gov. Beshear Joins Anthro Energy for Groundbreaking of $40 Million Manufacturing Facility in Louisville, Creating 110 Jobs
Project announced in January 2025 is the first large scale U.S.-owned and -operated advanced electrolyte production facility
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Aug. 18, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and leadership from Anthro Energy, an advanced materials and battery developer, to celebrate the groundbreaking of the company’s first Kentucky operation, a new over $40 million manufacturing facility in Louisville, creating 110 full-time jobs in addition to 390 construction jobs.
“Kentucky continues to lead the nation in advanced manufacturing, and today’s groundbreaking marks another exciting step forward for our commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “Anthro Energy’s investment will create quality jobs for Kentucky families, strengthen our growing battery and energy storage sector and further establish Kentucky as the destination of choice for innovative companies building the future right here in America.”
The new operation is the company’s first commercial scale manufacturing facility and will focus on advanced electrolyte production. Anthro Energy has developed a proprietary injectable phase-change electrolyte (IPCE) trademarked as Anthro Proteus, which can be used in a range of battery products tailored to specific industries, such as consumer, micromobility, defense and automotive. Once operational, the company anticipates production of over 12,000 metric tons of IPCE per year at the new facility. The 110 new Kentucky jobs created by the project will consist of several highly skilled positions, including production manufacturing technicians, process and control engineers, facility managers, accounting roles and maintenance and warehouse technicians.
“As demand for advanced batteries continues to grow, rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity for critical battery materials has become a national priority,” said David Mackanic, CEO and co-founder of Anthro Energy. “Today’s groundbreaking represents much more than the start of construction; it marks the beginning of a new chapter for American battery manufacturing. By producing advanced electrolytes here in the United States, we’re helping build a more resilient domestic supply chain while enabling the next generation of safer, higher-performing batteries.”
Along with the new facility, the company plans to recruit and train the next generation of advanced manufacturing talent by building and establishing partnerships within Louisville and Jefferson County, supporting workforce, job-education and recruitment efforts through various organizations such as Kentuckiana Works, Jefferson County Technical College, KY FAME, U.S. Army Fort Campbell and KY Valor, among others.
Anthro Energy is an advanced materials company that develops a scalable technology that solves the tradeoff between energy density and safety in today’s batteries. The company was founded in 2021 and delivered its first prototype cells to customers that same year. Since then, Anthro Energy has established a production facility in California, obtaining critical battery certifications and shipping its first commercial product. Today, the company remains committed to developing game-changing electrolyte technology that redefines the possibilities of batteries for companies and industries worldwide.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg highlighted the region’s strong manufacturing ecosystem: “Eight months ago, we announced that Anthro Energy would build its first U.S.-owned electrolyte production facility right here in Louisville. Today, we’re breaking ground on that promise. This facility strengthens America’s battery and energy supply chain right here in our South End, and it’s a clear sign that Louisville's is the epicenter for American advanced manufacturing.”
One Louisville CEO Trevor Pawl is excited to see the company’s future success: “From announcement to groundbreaking in less than a year, Anthro Energy’s progress reflects the kind of momentum we want every company to experience in Louisville. This is a project that strengthens our national energy supply chain and creates real opportunity for Louisville workers building the batteries that power our defense, mobility and automotive industries. It’s fitting that Anthro’s own co-founder and chief technology officer is a Kentucky native and University of Kentucky alum, proof that the talent this industry needs has been here all along. That’s the promise of One Louisville: connecting great companies with the talent, sites and support they need to grow right here at home.”
Anthro Energy’s investment and job creation furthers what has been the best six-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,300 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $50.7 billion in announced investments, creating more than 70,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $29 billion more than the next highest total.
Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the battery capital of the United States: AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Ford Motor Co.’s $2 billion, 2,200-job commitment in Louisville, as well as its $2 billion, 2,100-job project at the Kentucky 1 plant in Hardin County; Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County; and Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County, among others.
The Governor announced Kentucky once again set an all-time record for products shipped globally, with $51.6 billion in exports in 2025, representing a 7.65% increase over 2024.
Unemployment rates fell in all 120 counties between December 2024 and December 2025.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund. In 2023, Kentucky recorded over 2 million jobs filled for the first time ever and has stayed above that number ever since.
In addition, Kentucky has secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
Earlier this year, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in the top five nationally and second in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2025 Governor’s Cup rankings. In June, Area Development magazine awarded the commonwealth a Silver Shovel designation in its 2025 Shovel Awards, which highlight states for attracting high-value investment projects that will create a significant number of new jobs in their communities.
Gov. Beshear also announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in June 2025 preliminarily approved an incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program.
For more information on Anthro Energy, visit anthroenergy.com.
A detailed community profile for Jefferson County can be viewed here.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
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