Helping California Solar Recover from NEM 3

Gov. Andy Beshear was joined by local leaders and executives from Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing, a subsidiary of e-Storage, to announce the largest economic development project in Shelby County’s history and the largest jobs announcement in the commonwealth in more than two years. The nearly $712 million project creating 1,572 skilled, high-tech jobs represents the third-largest project for job creation during the administration and the fourth-largest investment.

“I want to thank Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing for their investment in Kentucky and the Shelbyville community,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is the single largest investment and job creation announcement we have on record for Shelby County, and it is the largest project Kentucky has seen this year. This project will solidify our role as a leader in the country’s energy storage sector and will transform our economy, creating opportunities for Kentucky families for generations.”

The project will establish a state-of-the-art, 6-gigawatt hour battery cell, module and packaging manufacturing facility in a 1 million-square-foot building located on Logistics Drive in Shelbyville. These self-contained energy storage systems will be packaged into modular, containerized utility-scale batteries. Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing will support e-Storage’s rapidly growing U.S. energy storage business and deliver American-made energy storage solutions to customers throughout the United States.

Production at the Shelbyville plant is expected to begin by the end of 2025.

The investment adds to Kentucky’s significant growth in battery-related production. Since the start of the administration, Gov. Beshear has announced projects across every phase of the electric vehicle lifecycle, from production of batteries and their components to recycling. The addition of utility-scale energy storage production represents further investment in emerging technologies and diversification of Kentucky’s battery-related industries.

“We are proud to be a part of the growing energy technology transformation across the U.S., and we are thrilled to announce our investment in a new, state-of-the-art industrial battery cell, module and packaging plant in Shelbyville, Kentucky that will employ over 1,500 Kentuckians,” said Colin Parkin, president of e-Storage. “This new plant will allow us to provide our U.S. customers with cutting-edge, American-made battery energy storage products.”

e-Storage, based in Ontario, Canada, is a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and integration of battery energy storage systems for utility-scale applications.

Senate President Robert Stivers noted the collaboration that has resulted in Kentucky’s recent economic success: “This is a special day in Kentucky as we celebrate another major investment in our people and our workforce. The General Assembly has worked to foster a pro-business environment in Kentucky, making us an attractive destination for global companies. We’ll continue this work, alongside Gov. Beshear, to keep bringing opportunity to our citizens.”

Shelby County Judge/Executive Dan Ison said this is a game-changing project for Kentucky: “Today is a great day for the people of Shelby County, and for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Today, we’re taking a major step toward a brighter future for our community. We’re showing that in Kentucky, when we work together for our citizens, we can achieve amazing things.”

Shelbyville Mayor H. Troy Ethington welcomed the company to the area: “We’re excited to welcome Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing to our community. This new venture marks a significant step in strengthening our local economy and creating high-quality jobs for our residents. Shelbyville continues to grow as a hub for innovation, and we’re proud to support industries that prioritize sustainability and technological advancement. We look forward to the positive impact Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing will bring to our city and commonwealth for years to come.”

Shelby County Industrial and Development Foundation President and CEO Ray Leathers mentioned the impact of the project: “Shelby County Industrial & Development Foundation is proud and excited to welcome Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing to our community, becoming our largest industrial employer ever! Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing has unquestionably established Shelby County, along with our 84 other industries, as a national commerce center at the crossroads of America.”

The president and CEO of Shelby Energy, Jack Bragg, said the project will have a major impact on the region: “We are so excited to welcome Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing into our Shelby Energy and Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives family. From the company’s initial visits to Shelbyville, we knew right away that the synergies and timings associated with the project were aligning to help bring this transformational project to fruition in Shelby County.”

Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s investment and job creation build on the best four-year period for economic growth in state history.

Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,000 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling nearly $34 billion in announced investments, creating roughly 57,500 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history.

The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. The average incentivized hourly wage in 2022 and 2023 topped $26 in consecutive years for the first time.

Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County; and INFAC North America’s $53 million investment in Taylor County, among others.

The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund, as well as the most jobs filled in state history. Last year, Kentucky set the record for the longest period with the lowest unemployment rates in state history.

Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.

In March, Site Selection ranked Kentucky third nationally and first in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2023 Governor’s Cup rankings. In April, Site Selection placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and in the top 10 nationally in its 2024 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.

Gov. Beshear announced a Supply Kentucky initiative with the goal of boosting job growth, reducing costs and enhancing supply chain security for Kentucky companies. And this month, the Governor announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, an initiative to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent and increase tourism across the state.

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in August preliminarily approved a 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $35 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $711.9 million and annual targets of:

• Creation and maintenance of 1,572 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 15 years; and
• Payment of an average hourly wage of $25.34 including benefits across those jobs.

Additionally, KEDFA approved the company for up to $5 million in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.

By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.

In addition, the company can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.

A detailed community profile for Shelby County can be viewed here.

e-Storage | csestorage.com

Gov. Andy Beshear | https://governor.ky.gov/

Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA), the industry’s flagship solar + storage event, announced the acquisition of Midwest Solar Expo (MWSE). The acquisition reinforces IESNA’s commitment to providing quality connections, resources, and knowledge in support of the energy transition both nationally and regionally. Jake Rozmaryn, former Midwest Solar Expo Executive Director, will transition into an advisory role and Sharona Kohn will continue as Conference Director.

“Midwest Solar Expo was founded to illuminate the future of the renewable energy market in the Midwest and now becomes our second regional expansion following Intersolar & Energy Storage North America Texas, which is set to launch November 19-20, 2024 in Austin,” said Wes Doane, Vice President, Intersolar & Energy Storage North America. “MWSE’s platform has focused on the intersection of policy, finance, technology, and business model innovation in the Midwest, and its growing exhibition targets the region’s specific challenges, offering professionals the tools they need to successfully navigate this ever-changing market.”

“Intersolar & Energy Storage North America’s reach, reputation, and impact within the solar + storage industry is unparalleled,” said Jake Rozmaryn, Executive Director & Cofounder, Midwest Solar Expo. “With its customer-focused approach, expansive global network, and deep bench of resources, I’m confident Midwest Solar Expo will flourish and expand under IESNA’s direction—providing even greater value to Midwest Solar Expo’s attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and partners in the years to come.”

This acquisition builds upon prior investment in the renewable energy industry by IESNA producer, Diversified Communications of Portland, Maine. Since acquiring Intersolar North America in 2019, the international trade show and conference producer has grown its Clean Energy portfolio to include Energy Storage North America, the Smart Energy Decisions network, Net Zero Forum,  Renewable Energy Forum, Intersolar & Energy Storage North America Texas—and now Midwest Solar Expo.

Grimes, McGovern & Associates was the exclusive advisor to Midwest Solar Expo in the transaction.

Midwest Solar Expo will be next held June 9-11, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Get the latest news by signing up for event updates here.

The Intersolar & Energy Storage North America flagship event takes place February 25-27, 2025, in San Diego, California; the regional event debuts November 19-20, 2024, in Austin, Texas.

Intersolar & Energy Storage North America | intersolar.us

Midwest Solar Expo | https://www.midwestsolarexpo.com/

Diversified Communications | https://www.divcom.com

Meyer Burger has received a letter from its largest customer, DESRI, purporting to terminate the master agreement with Meyer Burger with immediate effect.

Meyer Burger is currently analyzing the letter and the situation. The company currently expects that irrespective of the validity of such termination, this is likely to adversely affect its financial restructuring efforts, which are highly advanced. Assuming that such financial restructuring fails, the company may no longer be in a position to maintain its going concern. The company will provide further information in due course.

Meyer Burger | www.meyerburger.com

ZETA Executive Director Albert Gore released the following statement in response to reporting about the incoming Trump administration’s plans regarding the EV Tax Credits:

“Production credits like 45X have driven enormous job growth and new economic opportunities across the country, but particularly in battery belt states like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia. If the United States is going to continue to fight to bring those jobs here and actually compete to win against China, there needs to be a demand signal - like the New Clean Vehicle Tax Credit - aligned with that goal, otherwise we would be undercutting those investments and hurting American job growth.”

Zero Emission Transportation Association | https://www.zeta.org/

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) applauds the House passage of the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024 (H.R. 8446) introduced by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ). This legislation adds critical materials, as defined by the Department of Energy, to the statutory definition of critical minerals as defined by the U.S. Geological Survey. The bill will ensure consistency between the two lists to help expedite the permitting process for various critical minerals and bolster domestic supply chains that are critical to accelerating electrification.

“The passage of the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024 brings us one step closer to removing our dependence on China for the raw materials that are essential to the electrical industry,” said NEMA Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Spencer Pederson. “Critical minerals play a crucial role in everything from renewables to electric vehicles to energy storage that are helping us rapidly electrify and digitize. NEMA applauds the passage of this legislation that will create a reliable domestic supply of critical minerals through easing supply chain constraints and preventing bottlenecks in the permitting process. We urge the Senate to quickly follow the U.S. House of Representatives' lead and pass this legislation."

The legislation specifically ensures critical mineral projects, including copper mine projects, are eligible for the FAST-41 permitting process – a program that improves agency coordination and establishes two-year completion goals, to create a more efficient, predictable, and timely federal environmental review process for covered projects. Adding critical materials to the statutory definition of critical minerals will ensure parity between the two lists, streamline permitting, and cut through supply chain constraints of various critical minerals that are integral in energy generation, transmission, distribution and storage.

NEMA | www.nema.org

Avathon, formerly SparkCognition, has unveiled its pioneering AI platform to solve the most urgent industrial challenges, such as maximizing uptime of capital-intensive assets, enabling efficient ramp-up in manufacturing, and ensuring worker safety in industrial settings. By implementing a systems-level approach, Avathon’s platform enables solutions that work for the world’s most critical and complex infrastructure.

With over $100 trillion of aging infrastructure and increasing strain from supply disruptions, workforce shortages, and evolving security threats, Avathon is poised to meet this moment by bringing AI into the real world—to the people, machines, and industries that move the global economy.

“Avathon has an ambitious vision, investing significant capital to develop solutions that address the full scope of industrial challenges, such as the imperative energy transition to renewable sources of power,” said Lord John Browne of Madingley, former Group Chief Executive of BP plc and chairman of the Avathon board of directors. “Avathon’s platform is built to support global industry as it transitions from legacy infrastructure to the next generation of automation and sustainability.”

Avathon is building on its decade-long history of creating AI-driven solutions across diverse industries. This experience has been distilled into a cohesive platform that integrates large engineered systems with the latest advancements in AI and other emerging technologies. To further develop this platform and expand its reach and impact, Avathon has decided to relocate its headquarters to Silicon Valley, a move that positions the company to harness the region’s renowned innovation ecosystem.

“California continues to shape the future of innovation, with a talented and diverse workforce that’s second to none,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom. “We’re excited to welcome Avathon and its Industrial AI leadership to our state.”

Avathon will usher in a new era of Industrial AI from its Silicon Valley headquarters, tapping into the area’s talent, capital, and AI thought leadership. The company’s relocation marks the beginning of a bold new chapter where AI-driven solutions will help industries across the globe unlock new levels of safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

John Chambers, founder and CEO of JC2 Ventures and an Avathon advisor, said: “Innovation is at the heart of Avathon. The company has created a brilliant technology platform that will transform how complex assets are built, operated, and maintained, ensuring the global economy’s most critical systems remain resilient and adaptive.”

Avathon has earned its status as a Unicorn startup by serving some of the world’s largest companies. Its diverse customer base includes oil and gas supermajors, aerospace OEMs, global retailors, CPG manufacturers, and leading renewable energy operators. To best serve these customers, Avathon is building a fast-growing team that not only includes top AI scientists but also domain experts from various engineering disciplines and operational leaders with extensive industry expertise.

Pervinder Johar, CEO of Avathon, is focused on bringing industrial companies a technology platform that can grow with their businesses for decades.

“With full automation on the horizon, our goal is to empower businesses vital to the global economy for the next 50 years,” Johar said. “We are moving the headquarters to Silicon Valley because that gives us the perfect environment for future growth; the speed of innovation, the ecosystem of similar companies, the talent – it’s all very unique and ensures that we will always meet the needs of our growing list of customers.”

“Though our home is now in the Bay Area,” he continued, “we are excited to continue cultivating the remarkable engineering talent and expanding our footprint in the Austin area.”

Avathon | https://avathon.com/

Motion Industries, Inc., a leading distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts, and a premier provider of industrial technology solutions, has promoted Eric Gonzalez to Senior Vice President of Mexico, Canada, Industry Segments and Business Development, effective immediately.

Throughout his 26-year career at Motion, Mr. Gonzalez has excelled in numerous roles. He began as a Corporate Trainee and has held positions as an Outside Sales Representative, Branch Manager, Fluid Power Specialist, Automation Specialist, various Corporate Accounts roles and Field Leadership. Most recently, he served as Group Vice President for the Southwest Group and Mexico.

In his new role, Mr. Gonzalez will lead Motion’s businesses in Mexico and Canada while establishing new North American teams focused on Industry Segments and Business Development.

“Eric’s energy and sales leadership are exceptional,” said James Howe, President of Motion. “I am confident he will elevate Motion’s sales growth, and it will be exciting to see the new team synergies he orchestrates and influences.”

Mr. Gonzalez has a bachelor’s degree in biology from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo.

Motion Industries | https://www.motion.com/