Detroit Attracts $232M Fortescue Plant, Launches 600 Jobs, Eyes Clean Power

Detroit’s transition to a green technology hub is drawing serious capital and creating jobs across manufacturing, transportation, and energy. A $232 million investment from global green energy company Fortescue to build its first U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Center on Piquette Avenue signals the scale of the shift, with the company planning to produce EV battery systems, hydrogen generators, and fast chargers at the facility. The first battery production line is expected to come online in early 2025, and the project is projected to create 600 new jobs, according to a press release from Governor Whitmer’s office.

A Manufacturing Anchor on Piquette Avenue

Fortescue’s Advanced Manufacturing Center is the highest-profile single private investment in Detroit’s clean-tech manufacturing pipeline. The Piquette Avenue site, once home to historic auto innovation, will now host production of several zero-emission technologies under one roof. The company’s commitment to hire 600 workers locally ties directly into the broader regional trend: Southeast Michigan already accounts for more than 65 percent of all green jobs in the state, according to data from ZipRecruiter. Within that, the clean transportation cluster employs over half of Metro Detroit’s green workers, and energy efficiency jobs make up 54 percent of the state’s total in that sector. Fortescue’s expansion reinforces that concentration, bringing both manufacturing and engineering roles to the city.

Solar Neighborhoods and the City’s Climate Target

Detroit’s municipal clean energy push runs parallel to private investment. The city’s ‘Solar Neighborhoods’ initiative is designed to install 200 acres of solar arrays on previously blighted land across the city. The goal is to generate enough clean electricity to power all 127 municipal buildings by 2034, and city officials estimate the program could cut Detroit’s power bill by more than half. That target ties into the city’s broader Climate Strategy, which aims to source 50 percent of Detroit’s total electricity from clean energy within three years and reach 100 percent clean municipal power by 2034, according to the city’s sustainability office. The solar arrays will be sited on vacant parcels, turning a longtime liability into a productive asset while reducing operational costs for the city.

Electric Buses Hit the Streets

Public transit is also part of the green transformation. In May 2024, the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) launched its first four electric buses into revenue service, marking the city’s initial shift to zero-emission public transit. The buses are now operating on regular routes, and their deployment is the first step toward a larger fleet transition. While DDOT hasn’t yet published a full timeline for electrifying the rest of its fleet, the pilot has moved the city from planning to real-world operation. Together, the Fortescue investment, solar neighborhoods, and electric bus rollout make Detroit one of the most active mid-sized U.S. cities in the clean energy transition-not just as a consumer of green technology, but as a manufacturing base for it.

What Happens Next

With Fortescue’s manufacturing center still ramping up and the first battery line expected in early 2025, Detroit’s green job pipeline will expand over the next 12 to 18 months. The city’s Solar Neighborhoods program will continue to convert blighted parcels into energy-producing assets, and DDOT is evaluating next-generation bus purchases. For local businesses, workers, and residents, the convergence of manufacturing, transit, and utility-scale clean energy means Detroit is positioned to claim a larger share of the global green economy-backed by concrete investment, not just targets.