Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
JAMES CITY — An Irish manufacturing company that provides infrastructure for data centers has set up shop in James City County. Dublin-based CEL Critical Power is investing more than $5 million to establish the company’s first American manufacturing facility in Virginia. From a 400,000-square-feet warehouse in an industrial area off Green Mount Parkway, CEL will design and construct products used in the quickly growing AI and cloud industry fields. Gov. Glenn Youngkin joined state and county officials Wednesday to welcome the company, which began operations in July. CEL already has 70 employees, with a total of 100 anticipated by Christmas and 250 by 2027. Those numbers are expected to rise to 500 employees by 2030. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with James City County’s Office of Economic Development and the Hampton Roads Alliance to secure the company’s location, which comes as data centers have been popping up throughout the country and the state. CEL, founded in 1982, provides power solutions for industrial, pharmaceutical and data center industries, designing and manufacturing low-voltage distribution systems, switchgear equipment and remote power panels. On Wednesday, prior to a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Youngkin thanked CEL for choosing Virginia and in particular the Hampton Roads region, which he said was “transforming manufacturing.” Virginia was chosen from among three other states — North Carolina, Arizona and Wyoming — for CEL’s facility. Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland’s ambassador to the United States, called CEL’s new facility an example of Ireland’s partnership with both Virginia and the nation. While the partnership is deeply rooted in history, it’s also forward thinking, she said. “It’s defined by the kind of innovation, resilience and ambition that we see we’re surrounded by here today,” Nason said. Speakers, including Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura, delivered remarks Wednesday from underneath large U.S. and Irish flags. Youngkin gifted Niall McFadden, CEL’s managing director, with a Virginia flag as well. Nason was given a bottle of Virginia wine. The company chose Virginia and the Williamsburg area due to the state’s support, its pro-business and economic ecosystem and its supply chain, McFadden said. When the building was first leased in April, 42% of materials were coming from local suppliers, such as Guernsey Tingle, Capital Electric Supply and AOC Metal Works. McFadden said the company is now at 96%. The next 18 months will see $100 million spent on materials in the local supply chain, he said. When choosing a location to base its facility, the area was also chosen for its close proximity to Norfolk and its Navy activity, McFadden said. Skillbridge, a Department Defense program that transitions veterans into civilian life, is invaluable to the company, he said. Employees are being hired for all skill sets, including research and development, engineering, manufacturing and logistics. “People who are coming out of Norfolk don’t have to move to Richmond to work, and hopefully we will keep our employees here longer than average because its a nice environment to work in,” McFadden said. Right now, CEL is using about 154,000-square-feet of the 2-year-old Green Mount facility, but has an option to expand to all 400,000 square feet. Jim Icenhour, chair of the county Board of Supervisors, called CEL Critical Power a “wonderful addition” to the county’s growing industrial sector, bringing cutting-edge technology and well-paying jobs as well as a boost to the county’s economy. “We couldn’t ask for better than that,” Icenhour said. For more information about CEL Critical Power, visit cel-criticalpower.com. James W. Robinson, 757-799-0621, james.robinson@virginiamedia.com
