AES Ohio joins ribbon cutting for new substation powering LG-Honda plant

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ohio ( WDTN ) — The $4.4 billion LG-Honda battery plant is currently under construction and expected to begin production by 2025, with the help of AES Ohio.

At the time of the groundbreaking, the Jeffersonville area didn’t have enough capacity on the power grid to power the plant. But AES Ohio, stepped in, building a 345-kilovolt substation, and cut the ribbon to the future of electricity in the area.

“Bringing the power here to Fayette County in Jeffersonville was really important to making sure this project could happen. So without the energy, the project couldn’t go on. AES Ohio stepped in and was able to build a project to get the power to LG Honda. 2000 jobs coming here. We got it done in less than two years,” said Tom Raga, President of AES Ohio.

There are 2 other phases to this project. Phase 2 will be to build a new substation in Jeffersonville. Phase 3 will be to build a new substation in Octa. These upgrades will help to bolster the reliability of power, and allow for economic growth and development in the area.

“Jobs are going to completely change people’s lives and it’s going to just really help the overall community, whether it is property taxes or, you know, people now who weren’t working that are working,” said Raga.

The substations will help to power not only future businesses, but future homes, and AES Ohio wants to be ahead of the curve before that development begins.

“It’s better to get the substations put in before the growth comes around it. Right. Because nobody wants a substation in their backyard. So we’re building, we’ve already bought the land and we’re rebuilding the substations before the growth comes with it,” said Barry Lucas, senior project manager for AES Ohio.

Phase 2 is expected to be completed by 2026, and phase 3 will be completed by 2028.

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