$175M plant south of Tri-Cities will turn volcanic rock into insulation, create 125 jobs
Rockwool North America, which makes insulation products from volcanic rock and other materials, will build a $175 million plant at Wallula Gap that will employ 125 when it opens.
Rockwool is the North American arm of Rockwool Group, a global manufacturer based in Denmark.
The company will build its third U.S. manufacturing facility on a site at the Wallula Gap Business Park, off Highway 12 about 20 minutes southeast of Pasco.
The Port of Walla Walla agreed to sell the 250-acre property for $8.75 million or $35,000 an acre to Roxul/Rockwool.
The deal has been in the works since November 2022, when the port received an offer via Global Location Strategies (GLS) on behalf of an unnamed client it referred to as “Project Sequoia.”
Rockwool identified itself in a news release this week announcing it had agreed to buy the property at Attalia East Road and would make Wallula a launching pad for its West Coast expansion.
In a separate statement, the port’s elected leaders welcomed Rockwool and praised staff for their work to bring the project to fruition.
Rockwool expects to support 670 construction jobs while the plant is being developed. It projects $8.6 million in annual payroll and $2.4 million in Washington state and local taxes.
While Rockwool has not disclosed when the project will break ground, the port retains the right to repurchase the property if it does not commence construction within four years. The port is also obligated to extend a road to the property, along with a water line and a railroad spur.
Port funds will cover a majority of the cost, which are not yet known.
Stone wool products
Rockwool manufacturers non-combustible stone wool products from volcanic rock.
Its products are used in insulation, acoustic, design and other applications across a variety of industries, including construction, water management and transportation.
Officials will introduce themselves at two open houses in April, one in Burbank and the other in Walla Walla.
Burbank: 5-8 p.m., April 17, at Walla Walla County Fire District 5, 460 W. Humorist Road, Burbank.
Walla Walla Airport: 5-8 p.m., April 18, in the conference room of the airport terminal, 45 Terminal Loop, Walla Walla.
The Washington State Department of Commerce supported the development in 2023 when it selected the Wallula Gap Business Park as one of six sites to split $2.5 million in grants to attract and expand manufacturing.
Rockwool’s North American division currently employs 1,100 people and operates two U.S. plants in Ranson, W.Va., and Byhalia, Miss.
It has two additional North American plants in Canada, at Milton, Ontario, and Grand Forks, B.C.
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