WEIRTON – As the physical footprint and commercial reach of Form Energy continues to grow, local officials are reacting to the company’s latest news of opportunity.

Form Energy officials announced Tuesday an agreement with Xcel Energy for the deployment of a 300-megawatt and 30 gigawatt-hour multi-day iron air battery system for use in supporting a Google data center in Pine Island, Minn.

Form officials called it the largest single-site battery system by energy capacity announced globally, and Form’s first deployment in support of a data center.

“That is the best news this city has had in years,” Ward 1 Councilman Tim Connell said.

Form Factory 1 is located on Connell’s ward, on land which once was the site of Weirton Steel’s open hearth operation, breaking ground in May 2023 and officially opening its doors in September 2024 with trial production of its iron air battery systems beginning shortly after.

Connell has been on hand for several of the milestones in the company’s growth in Weirton.

“There have been so many doubters,” Connell said, pointing to discussions within the community when the factory was first announced among residents who didn’t believe it would come to fruition.

As part of the project, which must receive formal approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Xcel will provide the main power source to the data center, while Form’s 100-hour battery systems will serve as additional support and strengthen the grid reliability during multi-day stress events.

Form Factory 1 officially launched commercial production in 2025, with a goal of reaching a production capacity of 500 MW per year by 2028.

Weirton Mayor Dean Harris says the announcement is a welcome development for the company, which selected Weirton for its first full-scale manufacturing facility from 500 sites in 16 states.

“Any time you get involved with data centers, especially with Google, it’s a big boost for Form,” Harris said. “We’re really happy for them and all the work they’ve done.”

Hancock County officials also offered their support and congratulations on this week’s announcement

“We’re rooting for them,” Hancock County Commission President Eron Chek said. “We want them to succeed.”

Connell sees more opportunities for the community as the success continues, with Form serving as a focal point for additional development – both business and residential – in the city’s north end.

“That will bring so many more people to live here.”

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)