Osceola Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to begin formal negotiations with Paris-based CMG Clean Tech to sell its 309-acre Mac Overstreet property on Lake Tohopekaliga for a $431 million clean energy technology park.
CMG Clean Tech manufactures commercial and domestic clean energy solutions ranging from solar panels and roof tiles, solar-assisted heat pumps, mobile green hydrogen units, lithium batteries and EV charging systems — and those products will be used to power the entire campus.
“We are really excited about the opportunity to develop our Green Garden Village facility in Osceola County and create a first-of-its kind, leading renewable energy hub in the United States,” CEO John Darling said in a prepared statement.
Clean Tech is pledging to build its U.S. headquarters, a research and development facility; along with seven factories, and says it will create 1,200 jobs averaging at least $75,000 within three years.
Commission Chairwoman Viviana Janer said the project will be a tremendous asset to the county. “It aligns with our comprehensive plan and renewable energy policies, and I think it’s going to usher in a new era of advanced manufacturing in the Central Florida region.”
The company is listed as MLCMG on the Euronext Paris Exchange and was recruited by the Orlando Economic Partnership. OEP CEO Tim Giuliani said the Green Garden Village will assure Osceola County’s long-term position in the green energy and renewable energy sector.
The site on Pleasant Hill Road beat out locations in other states in part because of the region’s abundant sunshine, which will be used to generate power on site to run the entire facility, as well as its high-water table, which is beneficial to the production of pure hydrogen and oxygen for CMG’s products. Darling also cited the region’s depth of talent, collaborative business environment and steady growth.
“We want everyone to be proud of what we’re building,” Darling said. “And I can’t think of a better place to attract and encourage the best people to work on the next generation of renewable energy technologies than here.”
Clean Tech was the sole bidder for the property on Feb. 28, offering the minimum base price of $85,000 per acre. The company requested a 60-day due diligence period, but the construction timeline is lightning fast.
“Our intent is to close as soon as viably possible,” the bid states. The developer wants to break ground by June and deliver the entire project by February 2025.The campus would be developed in two phases. Some of the factories would be built in partnership with global leaders in the development of advanced battery technology and electrification of the automotive industry.
Phase 1 – Comprises PV Factory (solar panels), Siemens 10 MW Hydrogen Plant, HQ building, Gateway Entrance and Incubator Factory. Construction timeline June 2023-June 2024
Phase 2 – Comprises Data Center, Partnership Factory with Williams Advanced Engineering and McLaren, Battery Manufacturing and Solar Assisted Heat Pumps. Construction timeline February 2024-February 2025
The financial terms of the bid consist of the offer to buy 100 acres needed for Phase 1 for $8.5 million. CMG Clean Tech would then negotiate terms for the remaining property. As soon as the contract is signed, Clean Tech officers will hire an engineering firm to begin designing the campus.
The factory with Williams Advanced Engineering would mark the U.S. entry for the company that has its roots in Formula 1 racing and currently operates in the U.K. and Germany.
McLaren’s line of exotic sports cars start in the $200,000s, and some limited editions are priced in the millions. The company is currently building its first Orlando-area dealership in the former Orchard Supply store on U.S. 17-92 in Winter Park.
Osceola County would retain 42 acres on Lake Tohopekaliga, where it intends to build a public park with a boat ramp. CMG Clean Tech plans to complement the park with its own lakefront clubhouse for employees that will serve as the social hub for the campus and a key recruiting tool. In the bid, the company stated that the clubhouse would include a pool, gym, and catering facilities in a restaurant atmosphere to encourage socializing and community engagement.
By forming a U.S.-based subsidiary, CMG Clean Tech could be eligible for loans and credits made available for clean energy production through the Inflation Reduction Act. On March 13, Darling filed articles of incorporation for the Florida-based company called Panacea Global Energy, Inc. and has named Christian Hyslop as development manager.
COO Shaun Green said the name represents the company’s goal of providing sustainable solutions to complex energy problems. “We live in a changing world with regards to how energy is created, stored, and used,” he said, adding that the Osceola facility “will allow us to manufacture and develop our existing leading-edge technologies and provide a research base for renewables that will help us adjust globally to the challenges that we collectively face.”
According to the bid, new jobs would be created across multiple fields: manufacturing, research and development, security and logistics, administrative, maintenance, landscaping and in education. The company is working with Valencia College to develop a specialized curriculum in the renewable energy sector to train its future workforce.
“Beyond our vision to become a world-leading technology center for the manufacturing, innovation, research and development of renewable energy products, we seek to develop the next generation of innovators who will help lead a renewable energy revolution,” Darling said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article was published on March 19, 2023. It was updated following the March 20, 2023 Osceola Commission meeting.
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