A proposed manufacturing plant southeast of the Tri-Cities will make building insulation by crushing stone, melting it and spinning the lava-like material in an industrial-strength cotton candy maker.
Roxul USA Inc., aka Rockwool, plans to build a 2.7 million-square-foot plant at Wallula Gap Business Park, near Wallula Junction.
It’s buying 250 acres about 10 miles from Pasco from the Port of Walla Walla for $8.75 million.
In March, the company announced it would build ts fifth North American manufacturing facility in Eastern Washington to serve as a launch pad for its West Coast expansion. The others are in Canada and the U.S.
The first of three phases is a $175 million plant with 125 employees and an annual payroll of $8.5 million.
When all phases are complete, Rockwool will boast one of the larger manufacturing and warehouse facilities in the state. The Boeing Co.’s 4.3 million-square-foot airplane plant in Everett is the largest.
Rockwool’s 2.7 million square feet will be big enough to contain both warehouses Amazon recently built in east Pasco plus enough room left over for Sageview High School, the new school being built in north Pasco.