A new manufacturing plant is planned southeast of the Tri-Cities. Roxul USA Inc., also known as Rockwool, will build a 2.7 million-square-foot facility at Wallula Gap Business Park, near Wallula Junction. The company is purchasing 250 acres from the Port of Walla Walla for $8.75 million, about 10 miles from Pasco.
Rockwool announced in March that this plant will be its fifth North American facility, marking its expansion to the West Coast. The first phase, costing $175 million, will employ 125 people with an annual payroll of $8.5 million. When fully completed, it will be one of the largest manufacturing and warehouse facilities in Washington state.
The plant will make insulation from stone by crushing it, melting it, and spinning the molten material in a machine similar to a giant cotton candy maker. This rock-based insulation is fire-resistant, water-resistant, soundproof, and durable. It also has a long lifespan and can be recycled to create new insulation with no loss of quality.
Rockwool’s products are already used in famous buildings like U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the Empire State Building in New York, and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
The construction project, called Project Sequoia, is set to start operations between 2027 and 2028. The plant will bring significant development to the area, including increased traffic and energy needs. It will be powered by electricity and natural gas, with the electricity supply becoming 80% renewable by 2030 and 100% by 2040.
The Washington State Department of Commerce is supporting the development of Wallula Gap Business Park to attract and expand manufacturing in the region. Rockwool is one of two manufacturers planning to set up facilities there. The other is SkyNRG, a Seattle-based aviation fuel company that plans to produce sustainable fuel on a nearby 130-acre site starting in 2029.