Even with the shaky economy, some good news out of the private sector: an Ithaca company will be expanding operations. Primet Precision materials, a manufacturer of new age batteries, will expand its operations by May 2009 to support the production of 10,000 hybrid car battery packs per year. Democratic Congressman Maurice Hinchey, of New York’s 22nd congressional district, announced the expansion, hailing it as a key part of the US developing its own major battery industry.