Harshbarger Helps Bring Back $375 Million DOE Award for Eastman's Kingsport Recycling Expansion

October 30, 2026 Press Release Award expands Eastman's commercial-scale methanolysis plant by roughly 30% and strengthens America's domestic manufacturing supply chain Kingsport, TN — Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) today applauded the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) decision to reinstate a $375 million award to Kingsport-based Eastman, following her work with DOE leadership to restore the funding. The award will expand Eastman's commercial-scale methanolysis recycling facility in Kingsport and strengthen America's domestic supply chain for recycled plastics. “The Trump administration's commitment to American manufacturing is paying off for East Tennessee. Eastman has called Kingsport home for more than a century, and its local plant is where this American technology was proven at commercial scale,” said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. “I worked with the Department of Energy to make this award a smarter, more accountable investment, and I'm grateful to Assistant Secretary Robertson and her team for their partnership. This decision will support the reindustrialization of a strategically important domestic recycled-plastics supply chain, which means more output, opportunity, and good-paying jobs for Tennessee’s First Congressional District.” “We are grateful for Representative Harshbarger’s steadfast commitment to helping Eastman work with the DOE to reinstate the award funding,” said Mark Costa, Eastman Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “Her leadership reflects a shared priority: creating American jobs and strengthening the U.S. economy, starting right here in the region she calls home.” “The Department of Energy is proud to support this strategic investment in American ingenuity, industrial competitiveness, and the future of U.S. manufacturing,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson. “By expanding its proven, American-made recycling technology and putting underutilized assets back to work, Eastman is demonstrating how innovation can strengthen domestic manufacturing, revitalize existing industrial infrastructure, and build more resilient supply chains. DOE will continue to collaborate with private industry to make U.S. manufacturing the strongest in the world and grow jobs and economic prosperity.” Founded in Kingsport in 1920, Eastman is headquartered in Tennessee’s First Congressional District and is the largest employer in Kingsport. As part of the updated project scope, Eastman will expand its Kingsport methanolysis facility to increase output by approximately 30%, ensuring long-term, high-quality economic opportunities for East Tennesseans. ###