Phoenix Tailings to build $375M rare earth plant in New York
The facility will produce over 4,400 tons of annual rare earths oxides by 2028 and will create at least 90 new jobs in the region.
Phoenix Tailings plans to construct a $375-million commercial-scale rare earths processing facility in Rochester, New York, aimed at reducing the US's dependence on China for minerals. The plant, named Freedom Separation, will process over 18,000 tons of rare earth feedstock annually, with the potential to produce 4,400 tons of separated rare earth oxides per year at full capacity.
Construction is anticipated to begin in 2027, with full production expected by 2028. Phoenix Tailings CEO Nick Myers praised Rochester for its skilled workforce and industrial infrastructure. The state of New York will offer $3 million in performance-based tax credits to support the project. Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the job creation and national security benefits.
Phoenix Tailings' broader $1.2 billion Freedom Project aims to generate over 500 jobs in New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The project has received a $500-million conditional loan commitment from the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital. Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, highlighted the importance of the facility in reducing reliance on foreign processors and enhancing national security.
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