LGES still has plans for Phase 2 of Queen Creek facility

LG Energy Solution is still planning to open its currently paused second phase of its $5.5 billion electric vehicle complex in Queen Creek.

During a recent trip to an international conference in South Korea, Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley said LGES executives told her they will be opening the second facility on the complex.

“We expect it to move forward, but (there is) no specific timeline,” Wheatley stated in a text message Tuesday afternoon.

Wheatley traveled to South Korea as part of a delegation consisting of the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greater Phoenix Economic Council and SRP.

The LGES complex site under construction at Ironwood and Pecos roads will house two facilities dubbed projects Alpha and Gemini as part of a $5.5 billion investment in the town.

“LGES was one of many global companies to participate at the event, and shared phase one of the Queen Creek location (as it) continues to move forward,” Wheatley stated in an email Tuesday morning.

Phase 1, or Project Alpha, on the north end of the complex site closest to Pecos Road, will be a cylindrical battery plant called LG Energy Solution Arizona. It will produce 46-Series batteries for electric vehicles.

Phase 2, or Project Gemini, which is set for the south side of the complex closest to Germann Road, will be an ESS battery manufacturing facility called LG Energy Solution Arizona ESS that will produce lithium ion phosphate pouch-type batteries for energy storage systems.

In July, Queen Creek announced that LGES was pausing plans on Project Gemini as “they are evaluating their U.S. projects.” Project Gemini was announced in March 2023.

The Arizona delegation attended the 2025 InterBattery show in Seoul March 5-7, an exhibition featuring three of the top five battery manufacturers in the world, including LG Energy Solution.

“The state’s leading economic development agencies attended the event to help further investment in Arizona. I was invited to participate based on LG Energy Solution making the largest single investment for a stand-alone battery manufacturing facility in North America right here in Queen Creek,” Wheatley stated in the email.

In an email, one resident questioned the transparency of the trip.

“This topic is a hot one out here as the growth is not welcomed by most residents. She also seems to do these things under the radar, so who is that benefiting,” resident Mindi LaRose asked.

In an earlier email, LaRose said the trip was “not public knowledge at all. Similarly to how the LG Battery Plant was approved and slipped between the cracks to the public.”

During the March 5 council meeting, which Wheatley missed as she was in South Korea, a slide listing council committee reports included the trip to the 2025 InterBattery show.

“The town has continued to provide updates on the LGES facility once they are public. Economic development projects can often not be shared until a certain point in the process,” Wheatley stated.

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