CRANE, Ind. (AP) — Construction work has started on the $14 million Battery Innovation Center at the technology park near Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center in southwestern Indiana.

Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and several local officials took part in a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the project that is a collaboration among state and local governments and businesses.

The 32,000-square-foot facility is expected to open this year with about 35 staffers working on developing battery technologies. The facility will include a clean room for lithium ion battery prototype manufacturing and a variety of temperature, humidity and altitude chambers for battery cell testing.

The Greene County Daily World reports (http://bit.ly/RwD1ev ) Congressman Larry Bucshon said the Battery Innovation Center can help maximize energy research being done at Crane.

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Information from: Greene County (Ind.) Daily World, http://gcdailyworld.com/