By Richard M. Sullivan

Published on August 31, 2025

Source: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mount Vernon's economic landscape has taken a turn towards the sun with the inauguration of Manner Polymers' new solar-powered manufacturing hub. In partnership with the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Governor JB Pritzker, and local leaders gathered to unveil the 108,000-square-foot facility that stands out as the first fully solar-powered PVC compounding plant in the industry.

The state-of-the-art compound in Mount Vernon will serve multiple markets with economic and environmental consciousness at the forefront, and is projected to create over 60 jobs in Southern Illinois. Governor Pritzker emphasized the significance of the facility in his statement, pointing out the positive ripple effects it will have on the economic development of the region. He said this structure asserts Illinois' poised stance on the frontiers of clean energy and high-growth industries of the time, according to information provided by Illinois' government news release.

With its significant investment that exceeds $50 million, Manner Polymers is betting big on Illinois, bolstered by the state's competitive incentives, inclusive of the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) incentive package, and a $2.5 million grant to build a new rail spur. As DCEO Director Kristin Richards remarked, the company’s choice solidifies the state's claim as a budding hub in the clean energy economy and a leader in the electric vehicle industry.

The plant is set to produce an array of pivotal PVC compounds, critical for electric vehicles, and an integral component in the quest for a safer, more durable EV landscape. "Not only will we incorporate the most advanced manufacturing control systems available, but we will also produce substantially all of the electricity that we use," Manner Polymers' CEO Raj Bhargava outlined his vision of creating a uniquely sustainable operation.

This green stride in Illinois is part of a larger narrative, against a backdrop of an expanding clean energy sector in the state, which has seen recent investments from other clean energy manufacturers like Richardson Electronics, Adient, and Pure Lithium. Senator Terri Bryant (R–Murphysboro) encapsulated the communal optimism with her statement celebrating the economic and ecological implications that Manner Polymers’ new facility heralds for the state's future.