October 31, 2025 - State and local lawmakers are celebrating the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office’s announcement of a $1.5 billion loan for a coal-powered fertilizer facility in the Wabash Valley.

The loan will help fund a $2.6-billion coal-powered clean ammonia fertilizer facility in West Terre Haute.

According to a press release from the Department of Energy, the plant is anticipated to produce 500,000 metric tons of anhydrous ammonia per year. The Department of Energy said it will accomplish this by using coal from a nearby Southern Indiana mine.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun and U.S. Representative Mark Messmer (R-Ind.) both praised President Donald Trump for bringing this investment to Indiana.

“I commend President Trump, the U.S. Department of Energy, and their Energy Dominance Financing program for this wise investment in Indiana, said Governor Braun. “Wabash Valley Resources is putting America first—transforming an idle fossil energy plant into a fertilizer engine that strengthens our farmers, bolsters energy independence, and revitalizes coal country. This is the kind of vision and leadership we need to compete globally.”

“This bold investment is exactly the kind of forward-looking initiative our communities deserve. President Trump is not only boosting American agriculture and energy independence, but also bringing jobs, prosperity, and renewed purpose to every corner of Indiana’s 8th District, said Rep. Messmer. “I applaud WVR and look forward to working hand in hand to ensure this succeeds for our farmers, our workers, and our nation’s security.”

Since taking office, President Trump has made the coal industry a focus of his second term. In September, the Trump administration said it would open 13 million acres of federal lands for coal mining and provide $625 million to recommission or modernize coal-fired power plants.

Wabash Valley Resource said this investment “delivers on the Trump administration’s promise to responsibly steward taxpayer dollars and unleash American energy dominance.“

“Today’s announcement highlights DOE’s commitment to achieving President Trump’s national security and energy dominance goals by securing domestic fertilizer supply for farmers in the Corn Belt and ensuring the American people’s access to reliable, abundant, and affordable energy,” said Wabash Valley Resources.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright echoed the support for the investment.

“For too long, America has been dependent on foreign sources of fertilizer,” said Wright. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are changing that by putting America first, relying on American coal, American workers, and American innovation to power our farms and feed our families.”

Wabash Valley Resource officials also praised the Government of the Republic of Korea and Korean investors who helped get the project to the Wabash Valley.

“We are equally honored by the trust shown by the Government of the Republic of Korea through its Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), and by our Korean investment partners, Hanwha Asset Management and Korea Investment Real Asset Management Co., Ltd. (KIRA), who have invested in Wabash,” said Simon Greenshields, Chairman of the Board, Wabash Valley Resources

“This project is more than an investment; it’s a new chapter for a world-class facility and the community that built it. With the support of the U.S. Department of Energy, our elected leaders, our Korean partners, and America’s skilled workforce, we’re restoring good-paying jobs and proving that rural Indiana can help lead America’s clean energy future,” said Dan Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Wabash Valley Resources

Greg Zeller, Vice President of External Affairs for Wabash Valley Resources, told WTWO the new plant will be built on the site of an old coal plant that has been idle since 2016 and will reuse some of the old facility.

The Department of Energy and Wabash Valley Resources have not yet released a completion date for this project.