News Roundup

Nation’s first LFP cell factory planned for Arizona

American Battery Factory has announced that it will build the first in a series of planned factories to manufacture lithium ferrous phosphate (LFP) cells near Tucson, Arizona. The 180,000 square meter factory will be in Pima County’s Aerospace Research Campus and will represent an estimated $1.2 billion investment. American Battery Factory says that it plans to have its headquarters, R&D center and initial factory built within the next 18 to 24 months. If completed, this will be the United States’ first LFP cell facility.

Source: American Battery Factory Selects Tucson, Arizona as site for its first battery cell gigafactory in the United States (American Battery Factory)

Georgia Regulators Decline to Expand Net Metering Pilot

The Georgia Public Service Commission declined to increase the size of a 5,000-customer pilot for net metering in utility Georgia Power’s latest rate case. Instead, the commission has increased the rate that is paid to customers who generate electricity from rooftop solar from $0.0268/kWh to $0.0668/kWh. This is far less than the $0.1428/kWh average retail rate that Georgia Power’s residential customers paid in the first 10 months of 2022. Environmental and clean energy groups say that the new rate will not encourage rooftop solar adoption and describe the decision as a lost opportunity.

GPSC also approved 2.8% rate hike for Georgia Power customers in 2023 and allowed the utility to receive up to an 11.9% profit margin, as well as a 10.5% return on equity. Both returns are well above the national average.

News coverage: Public Service Commission approves Georgia Power bill increase for ratepayers in 2023 (Savannah Morning News)