Hardin County holds public hearing on proposed tax abatement for ACE Green Recycling

Hardin County Commissioners Court held a special public hearing Tuesday to receive public comment on an application by ACE Green Recycling Incorporated for a tax abatement on personal property — furniture, fixtures and equipment — for a proposed battery recycling facility in the Silsbee area.

The company representatives described the project as a phased effort that would begin with roughly $25 million in equipment for Phase 1, create about 65–70 local jobs initially and eventually expand to several hundred jobs as operations scale. "We plan to set up in phase 1 a $25,000,000 investment… and that will render about 70 jobs in phase 1," Teddy Brocato, CFO of ACE Green Recycling, told the court. Dr. Bipin Tiagi, the company’s chief technology officer, told commissioners the company’s process runs at room temperature and, in his words, produces no emissions.

The project matters to the county because it promises local employment and industrial investment while raising environmental questions among nearby residents. "If you're gonna give them a tax abatement, I think you need to give the local people tax abatements also," said Chuck Mercado, a nearby business owner and resident, who urged the court to consider parity for local firms that already pay full taxes. Neighbor Ellen Buchanan said she wants more information about any required environmental permits and whether any wastewater or chemicals could reach local creeks: "I don't want to be breathing that. We already know that we're in the cancer belt, and so we don't need any more of that," Buchanan said.

Company representatives said Phase 1 production is expected to reach about 30,000 tons per year and that output could grow to roughly 100,000 (tons) after about 18 months. Brocato said the firm has roughly 11 years of R&D and testing, has secured permits for pilot operations in other countries and is preparing the U.S. project as a flagship facility. He said ACE Green intends to source equipment primarily in the U.S. with some European suppliers and that the company has not taken Chinese investment.

Court leaders described the county process. The court opened the public hearing and answered questions about next steps: the county’s enterprise zone designation for the site is already in place, the judge said, and the commissioners will consider a formal abatement agreement only after ACE Green executes a lease for the property and submits a draft abatement agreement. "We would ask you to submit a draft agreement to us for the tax abatement, and we would take that up as an action item at a future regular meeting," the Hardin County Judge said. The judge also said the most he would be willing to consider would be a five‑year abatement if an agreement moves forward.

Commissioner remarks and court staff offered to help arrange additional public information meetings near the proposed site so neighbors can ask technical questions about safety, permitting and wastewater treatment. A court staff member directed residents to contact county staff (Laura) for the abatement policy and additional details about qualifying criteria, including minimum new-employee thresholds discussed by commissioners.

No abatement agreement was approved at the special meeting. The only formal action recorded during the session was a motion to adjourn the special hearing; Commissioner Cooper moved to adjourn, Commissioner Kirkendall seconded, and the court recessed briefly before returning to regular session.

The county asked ACE Green to return with a signed lease and a draft abatement agreement for formal consideration. The company and residents were encouraged to schedule further public meetings to address technical questions about emissions controls, wastewater and local impacts before the court takes any binding action.