Working with the Community

Clean Hydrogen Works’ (CHW) $7.5 billion Ascension Clean Energy (ACE) project is currently in the permitting phase.


Before the project can move forward, an extensive review process must be completed with state and federal regulatory agencies. ACE is working cooperatively with those agencies throughout this process.

WHAT WILL ACE BRING TO MODESTE, DONALDSONVILLE, AND WEST ASCENSION?

ACE will bring more economic opportunity to the area with new jobs and significant investment, targeted for those who live closest to the project site.
350
new, permanent jobs at an average annual wage of $116,375 plus benefits
1,500
Construction jobs
1,233
indirect jobs at an average annual wage of $96,485 plus benefits
$214.4 Million
in Local Tax Revenue


The ACE project will provide funding for West Ascension Parish residents who are interested in pursuing this training opportunity in an effort to build a qualified local workforce pool from which to hire. The project is committed to hiring locals from this pool from construction through start-up and operations.

Scholarship recipients will receive a paid internship throughout the duration of their study with the opportunity for full-time employment based on successful program completion.

The company also intends to develop a resource of qualified local vendors and contractors to support the project.

Community Investmentand Engagement

A local office with full-time local staff will be opened in Donaldsonville by the end of 2024. The office will be centrally located for residents to seek information about the project, get their questions answered, and connect with project executives. As the project progresses, the company will continue to enhance its community investment and engagement activities:

  • ACE Opportunity program offering paid training and internships prioritized for local residents
  • Creation of West Ascension Community Advisory Panel (CAP)
  • Financial and volunteer support for local schools and community non-profit organizations

What Can We Expect fromThe ACE Project Development Team

Our Goal
To develop a project of which both the community and company can be proud

Our Commitment
  • Safeguarding the environment, operating safely, reliably, and with the highest integrity
  • Transparency and open, two-way communication with our key stakeholders
  • Working collaboratively to provide pathways for additional training, job and contracting opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ascension Clean Energy (ACE) Project?

ACE is an approximately $9 billion clean hydrogen-ammonia production facility proposed for the industrially zoned RiverPlex MegaPark near Modeste. The clean hydrogen-ammonia produced would be shipped to global markets and used as a fuel source such as the marine transportation industry, power generation, fertilizer industry. 

This project would position the community, parish, and state at the forefront of the global energy transition by providing clean energy on an international scale.

How will the project benefit the community, parish, and region?

ACE is committed to working with the community in developing and operating a mutually beneficial project. 

The project is expected to create 350 new permanent, full-time jobs with competitive pay and benefits. Additionally, the project will generate approximately 1,200 indirect jobs with a peak of about 1,500 during construction. The project team is committed to prioritizing hiring qualified local residents to the fullest extent possible.

ACE is expected to generate about $3.4 billion in new sales taxes for Ascension Parish, which will provide funding for education, roads, public safety and emergency preparedness and response.

Source: Dr. Loren C. Scott & Associates, Inc.

How will the company prepare locals to benefit from the anticipated job and contracting opportunities?

The company is working with RPCC to develop the ACE Opportunity Program to train local residents for these opportunities, with a goal of hiring 10% of its workforce locally.

Project leaders are working to develop a local resource of additional contractor, vendor, and supplier opportunities, with preference given to minority, veteran, and woman-owned businesses.

How will ACE work with the Modeste and Donaldsonville communities?

ACE is committed to being a good community partner, working together to address needs and opportunities that are priorities for the community as a whole.

We believe in direct, open communication with community stakeholders and are committed to transparency in our operations.

We recently established the West Ascension Community Advisory Panel (CAP) for West Ascension to provide a forum for regular dialogue between community members and project management.

Additionally, ACE is a member of both the Donaldsonville and Ascension Chambers of Commerce and has sponsored the CEO Community Day in Modeste and the Juneteenth Celebration in Donaldsonville, as well as other local activities and events.

Will you be purchasing additional real estate and/or property in the area?
Not at this time. ACE has purchased all the property needed for the project.
What are the qualifications of the team working to develop this project?
Clean Hydrogen Works is the parent company that is developing the ACE project. CHW’s executive team is made up of former executives of leading energy companies with years of experience and expertise in developing energy projects.

Downloadable Documents

ACE Opportunity Program (53 KB)
With an anticipated 350 new full-time permanent jobs, the ACE project will require a pool of trained workers with a strong work ethic and understanding of safety and environmental processes, as well as specific project-related skills.
The Economic Impact of ACE' s Proposed $7.5 Billion Blue Hydrogen-Ammonia Facility (5.5 MB)
The construction of the ACE facility over 2025-2028 is projected to positively impact the Louisiana economy.
ACE Community Fact Sheet (373 KB)
The ACE project is a world-scale clean energy production facility proposed for a 1,700-acre site on Ascension Parish’s RiverPlex MegaPark near Modeste.
CHW Brochure (13.3 MB)
Led by a seasoned executive team, CHW is developing a world-scale blue ammonia project, Ascension Clean Energy (ACE), in collaboration with strategic shareholders ExxonMobil, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Hafnia.
The information contained here is not a guarantee of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied herein.