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Duquesne Hopeful for New Manufacturing Tenant
Battery company looking at site in industrial park
By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
November 21, 2024
Posted in: Duquesne News
A photo of the Eos Energy assembly line, from the company’s website. (Courtesy EOS Energy Enterprises)
Duquesne officials are hopeful that a battery technology company currently located in Turtle Creek will expand into the city’s industrial park.
The Duquesne planning commission was scheduled to meet this month to consider a proposal from Eos Energy Enterprises for a 185,000 square foot facility at RIDC’s Industrial Center of Duquesne, the former U.S. Steel Duquesne Plant.
An Edison, N.J., based company, EOS has two manufacturing hubs in Turtle Creek at another RIDC facility, Keystone Commons.
At his month’s council meeting, city officials said the facility would employ some 300 people. “Will residents of Duquesne be able to apply for these jobs?” asked Mayor R. Scott Adams. City Manager Douglas Sample said interested residents could and that federal, state and county money are earmarked for that opportunity.
“This is very good news for us,” Sample said. If the proposal moves forward, EOS is reportedly looking to start construction after the beginning of 2025.
In other business, Sample noted that the city’s property taxes will remain at 20 mills in 2025. Council will read and vote on the 2025 budget at the Dec. 3 meeting.
Councilman Aaron Adams said there were no substantial issues with water issues within the past month but that “we are investigating water rate increases going forward.” He added that it will most likely be an annual increase as all parties are raising their rates.
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County is increasing its base rate for water by 3.4 percent, Adams said, and Duquesne residents can expect 5 percent to 7.5 percent increases per year over the next three years.
In addition, garbage fees are expected to rise after the new contract with County Hauling expires. A 10 percent increase is being proposed.
City officials are working on ways to reduce costs — including on garbage fees — after 2025, Councilman Adams said.
Adams added that the city received a letter from Pennsylvania American Water, which provides sewerage services to the city, reminding residents to avoid using “non-essential” water as the entire region has been suffering from a lack of rain. Officials will look at adding the letter to the municipal website.
Mayor Adams reported no update on the proposed electric vehicle charging stations in the city.
Public Works Director Steve Arbasak reported that city workers were in their second week of leaf pickup, with two or three more weeks to go, and crews are filling in potholes as they become aware of them.
Tom Leturgey is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh and the editor of KSWA Digest, the online news and features home of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. His work also appears in The Valley Mirror and other publications.
Originally published November 21, 2024.
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