Ready to Innovate: Capito Visits TIMET, BHE Renewables Site in Jackson County | News, sports, jobs

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, left, and TIMET Human Resources Manager Hannah Hesson, center, listen as Alicia Knapp, president/CEO of BHE Renewables, speaks Friday about the company’s construction of a renewable energy microgrid system in Jackson County. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

MILLWOOD – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito expressed excitement Friday over the speed of development at the TIMET site in Jackson County and support for eliminating tariffs that increase the cost of the company’s raw materials.

Capito, RW.Va., toured the space at the former Century Aluminum site near Ravenswood, where TIMET is building a titanium smelting facility and Berkshire Hathaway Energy Renewables is building a microgrid system to power it.

“I’m excited about what I see and I’m impressed with how quickly it has happened,” said Capito, after speaking with representatives from both companies about the timelines of the projects and how they will work.

“TIMET really moves the dirt here,” she said, adding that the company’s arrival will “help us join the space race and the aerospace industry.”

When the facility is operational, the plant will produce processed titanium alloy chips and titanium rods using one electron beam hearth melter and seven vacuum arc remelt furnaces, said Patrick Pettey, TIMET quality and technology director. Approximately 50% of the company’s products are used in aerospace engines and 35% in airframe structures.

TIMET Human Resources Manager Hannah Hesson, left, talks with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito about the company’s welcome and efforts to support the Jackson County community during a site tour Friday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“This is our bread and butter,” Pettey said. “This is where we live.”

One issue company officials spoke to Capito about is the tariff on imports of titanium sponge, the raw material TIMET uses. Vice President of Purchasing Jeff Easto said all titanium producers pay a 15% import tariff, despite the fact that there are no producers of the material in the United States.

‘There is no domestic industry that needs to be protected’ he said.

That means products from TIMET and other domestic manufacturers cost 15 cents more per dollar than products from countries without such tariffs, Easto said.

Capito is co-sponsoring legislation to eliminate the tariff.

BHE Renewables President/CEO Alicia Knapp, left, answers questions from U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito about her project in Jackson County during a site tour Friday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“We want our American products to be competitive everywhere,” she said.

The company has been welcomed with open arms by the community, says Hannah Hesson, HR manager of TIMET. There are now 39 local employees, some of whom are receiving training at TIMET’s plant in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, on the processes they will use in Millwood once the plant is operational, expected in the second quarter of 2025. The company expects 200 employ people. people on site once everything is up and running, but they already have more than 300 pre-screened interested and qualified candidates, Hesson said.

In addition, the company contributes to the community in several ways, including installing solar lights at Ripley High School and distributing educational materials on photosynthesis at the Jackson County Fair.

As the TIMET project takes shape, BHE Renewables is preparing to deploy its solar panels and batteries to store the energy it generates. The microgrid will generate 106 megawatts of electricity over the course of a year to meet TIMET’s energy needs, said Alicia Knapp, president/CEO of BHE Renewables.

Capito pointed to West Virginia’s history as an energy producer, especially in fossil fuels, as the company expands renewable energy options here.

“I think it just shows that West Virginia is ready to innovate,” she said.

Evan Bevins can be reached at [email protected]