Idaho-based KORE Power announced on July 30 plans to build the company’s first lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in Buckeye, Arizona. The 1 million square-foot KOREPlex facility will support up to 12 gigawatt hours (GWh) of battery cell production to ensure a reliable independent U.S. supply chain for lithion-ion battery cells that are critical to electric vehicles and domestic power grids. “Arizona is thrilled to be selected as the home of the country’s first U.S.-owned lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility,” said Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey in a statement. “Not only will this facility create thousands of new jobs, it will position Arizona as an anchor in the global battery manufacturing supply chain. According to KORE Power, the new facility in Buckeye, located 40 miles west of Phoenix, will have the capacity to produce enough power for 3.2 million homes each year. “KORE Power’s expansion to Arizona will bring thousands of great-paying jobs …