The KOREPlex, which is central to KORE Power, inc.’s (KORE) plan to build an American lithium-ion battery supply chain, received a key approval this week, when the City of Buckeye’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved plans for Phases 1 and 2 at the site.
“We have worked closely with the City of Buckeye to design a manufacturing facility that is a significant step forward for lithium-ion battery manufacturing to be done in the United States by a U.S. company. After close coordination, we’ve created a design that works with the local community, consistent with their comprehensive plan,” said Lindsay Gorrill, KORE’s founder and CEO. “The KOREPlex will not only be a centerpiece of KORE’s growth as a company, it will also be a hub of economic development for Buckeye and Maricopa County.”
The plans for the first phase of the KOREPlex, which will produce batteries for the transportation and energy storage sectors, includes the construction of a 909,000-square-foot manufacturing hall, which will house operations for the production of lithium-ion cells and modules. The campus will also include a 28,000-square-foot administration building and 14 additional buildings that will offer storage and additional services for the facility. A utility substation and switchyard will also be built at the site to support the facilities’ electrical needs.
In the second phase, the KOREPlex will add an additional 909,000-square-foot manufacturing hall and additional features including solar car ports for the parking area and additional support buildings.
The construction of Phase 1, which will start this year following final approval by Buckeye’s City Council, will result in an estimated 700 jobs. When the site becomes operational, we expect it to create more than 1,250 jobs, the majority of which will be available to workers with a GED.
“The KOREPlex is a signature project for the City of Buckeye and represents an investment that will bring significant job creation and responsible development to our community,” said Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn. “We have worked closely with KORE Power to move the project forward, and with that, have built a foundation for future collaboration.”
Deanna Kupcik, president and CEO of the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, said the community is excited to be home to a renaissance in American manufacturing. “The KOREPlex represents a return of good paying jobs that will support American families by building products that are in high demand, and these jobs will be available to many people who need those jobs. This is a win for Buckeye and a win for Maricopa County.”
“As an American company, since our founding, we have been laser focused on our goal of onshoring battery manufacturing because of its critical importance to supporting the growth of e-mobility and helping safely modernize our electric grid. Our customers want the confidence of using batteries and systems made by American workers, and today we are another step closer to that goal,” Gorrill said.