On Wednesday, April 16th, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced that the Swiss company, Hitachi Energy, will invest over $70 million in Westmoreland County to expand and upgrade three factories to meet the growing demand for sustainable grid infrastructure. This investment is part of the company’s $155 million expansion plan in North America, which will create approximately 100 new jobs and retain nearly 300 existing positions statewide, while solidifying Westmoreland County as a high-voltage manufacturing and service strategic center.
Luca Calamari, the General Manager of Hitachi Energy’s North America High Voltage Business, stated that the company’s investment in Pennsylvania demonstrates its commitment to providing reliable, flexible technologies aimed at creating the lowest carbon footprint grid possible.
The factory in Mount Pleasant will be transformed into a high-tech manufacturing center that will focus on producing key equipment such as EconiQ SF6-free high-voltage switchgear, dead tank circuit breakers, and plug-and-play switchgear systems, significantly increasing production capacity. Additionally, the company will construct a new high-voltage component manufacturing facility, research laboratory, and customer experience center in Hunker, with plans to commence construction this year and be fully operational by 2026. The high-voltage service business will be integrated into the Greensburg factory.
The Pennsylvania government is providing over $329,000 in support for the project, including $184,000 from the “Pennsylvania First” grant and $145,000 from the WEDnetPA employee training grant. Governor Shapiro emphasized, “Global leading companies choosing Pennsylvania demonstrate our ambition in business development. We are building a national reputation for leadership in energy and manufacturing.” This investment aligns with Pennsylvania’s strategic plan for economic development over the next decade, with energy being listed as one of the five key areas.
Since Governor Shapiro took office, the state government has facilitated over $3.7 billion in private investments, creating more than 5,000 job opportunities. The proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget will provide new funding for innovation, workforce training, and support for impoverished communities.
Pennsylvania has showcased its attractiveness to high-end manufacturing through policy support and financial incentives. Industry experts believe that Hitachi Energy’s decision may attract more international companies to invest in Pennsylvania, further solidifying its position in the global energy transition. In the future, with the commissioning of new facilities and the opening of the training center, Westmoreland County is poised to become a core hub for high-voltage technology innovation in North America.