Nearly 20 unmarked graves have been discovered in Glendale at the site of the planned, twin Ford battery plants announced in September 2021.
Human remains were located in 19 unmarked graves, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed to WAVE.com.
“Nineteen unmarked burials were identified as a result of the additional archaeological field work completed in March 2022,” Katie Newton, public relations specialist with the Corps, told the Louisville television station.
Corps officials are working with the Kentucky State Historic Preservation Office, the Kentucky Heritage Council and the decedents’ family members to establish where to relocate the cemetery.
Newton added that the cemetery must be moved in compliance with Kentucky law.
The Corps’ DA Permit decision on the Ford battery factories is not likely to be delayed by the cemetery relocation, Corps officials said.
The twin Glendale battery plants will be built on a 1,551-acre economic development site near I-65 and will generate 86 gigawatt hours, which commonwealth officials believe will make Kentucky the nation’s largest producer of electric automotive batteries.
The Glendale plants will create 5,000 jobs in addition to bringing jobs from suppliers that make components for the plants.
(Photo: Site of planned twin Ford battery plants in Glendale, courtesy of WAVE.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
