Scaling Manufacturing of High-Performance Battery Cells to Accelerate Zero-Emissions Transportation
Summary
SCH Number
2023010531
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Scaling Manufacturing of High-Performance Battery Cells to Accelerate Zero-Emissions Transportation
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/26/2023
Document Description
Under grant Agreement ZVI-22-020, the California Energy Commission will provide a grant of $10,220,285 to American Lithium Energy Corp. (ALE) to help it carry out the project.
This project will install new equipment in existing facility for scaling manufacturing of high-performance battery cells to accelerate Zero-Emissions Transportation. The project site is located in a light industrial park. American Lithium Energy will expand manufacturing of electric vehicle (EV) batteries to accelerate adoption of zero-emission vehicles across the State of California. In support of California’s economic competitiveness in technology and manufacturing, ALE’s increased battery manufacturing will reduce the State’s dependence on petroleum-based fuels, support workforce development in California, and increase the use of U.S.- and California-based raw materials and equipment suppliers.
Beneficiaries will include users of lithium-ion batteries, such as manufacturers of EVs, and their customers.
Contact Information
Name
Taiying Zhang
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Air Pollution Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Carlsbad
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
2261 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, section 15301 and section 15303
Reasons for Exemption
Work under this project consists of installation of small production and quality control equipment at an existing plant for prototyping and production and falls under both Class 1 and Class 3 CEQA exemptions.
Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment, , involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Although battery output will increase, the land use will not change and the square footage of the existing building will not increase. All new equipment will be installed at an existing plant and placed on existing concrete. For these reasons, work under this project will have no significant impact on the environment and falls within 15301.
Class 3 consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. The project pertains to two production lines and one dry room. First, a new electrode manufacturing line will be installed. The new electrode manufacturing line includes mixing, coating, and calendaring machines. The new unit will be placed on existing concrete and will be approximately 500 square feet. Second, a new 18,650 cell assembly production line will be installed next to an existing cell assembly room. The new 18,650 cell assembly line will include jellyroll winding, cell beading and crimping, and electrolyte filling, which will occupy approximately 300 square feet. Third, the drying room will be installed to protect the electrolyte filling station from the water in the air. The result of these upgrades and additions of small, new equipment will be to increase throughput without changing use, while simultaneously enhancing the output and quality of the products. For these reasons, work under this project will have no significant impact on the environment and falls within 15303.
The project will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.