Western Pennsylvania is poised to reap the benefits of an $86 million investment being made by Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc. (MEPPI).
MEPPI plans to construct a new 160,000-square-feet advanced switchgear factory, and expand and upgrade its existing facilities in Warrendale, Pa., with investments in power electronics and test labs, the company said Monday.
“Right here in the Pittsburgh region, we’re making targeted investments to attract more projects like MEPPI’s, boost our economy, and create good-paying jobs for Pennsylvanians,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is also investing in MEPPI’s expansion. The company received a funding proposal from the state Department of Community and Economic Development for a $4 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant and a $2.75 million Pennsylvania First grant.
Upon reaching full capacity, MEPPI anticipates that the new factory will employ more than 200 full-time workers.
“Since day one, my administration has been focused on building a stronger economy that creates opportunities and a brighter future for our communities, and these jobs are yet another step forward in that work,” Shapiro said.
MEPPI President and CEO Tricia Breeger said that the company’s switchgear and power electronics solutions are essential for meeting the growing demand for electricity, including from powering homes and businesses to supporting the expansion of data centers.
Initially, the new factory will focus on the production of both vacuum and gas circuit breakers, and as it scales operations, it will transition to manufacturing mostly vacuum circuit breakers to meet the evolving needs of U.S. electric utilities and support the nation’s broader decarbonization efforts.
“By investing in a state-of-the-art switchgear factory, we will better serve our customers, and we will significantly advance the production of critical components that strengthen both distribution and transmission grids while driving new technologies forward in support of the nation’s decarbonization initiatives,” said Breeger.
MEPPI’s investment is being made in collaboration with its parent company Mitsubishi Electric Corp. in Japan, a signal that its investment represents a broader strategy to strengthen overall production capabilities of energy systems both in Japan and overseas.