Nextracker, JM Steel Expand Pittsburgh Facility, Tripling Capacity For Solar Energy Projects
Nextracker, a global provider of solar tracker and software solutions, and Jennmar Holdings (Jennmar) subsidiary JM Steel, a steel processing provider, jointly announced the completion of a major expansion of Nextracker-dedicated manufacturing lines at JM Steel’s Leetsdale, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh-area) steel facility, achieving 4 GW of capacity.
Inaugurated and reopened in 2022, the refurbished historic factory produces American-made, critical steel components to support rising demand for solar energy across Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic, which employs thousands of construction workers across multiple states in the Midwest region.
The facility now features new technology, including solar tube lines with automated drilling and swedging. With this most recent expansion, Jennmar’s growth capital investment in support of the US solar industry has exceeded US$100 million over the last four years.
For Nextracker, this latest expansion also marks 20 new or expanded US manufacturing partner facilities since 2021 and enables the company to provide more than 25 GW of US solar tracker capacity each year.
“We are thrilled to be partnered with JM Steel and celebrate the expansion of the Pittsburgh facility to serve customer demand. This facility is also expected to produce core components of our new low-carbon tracker offering announced this week,” said Dan Shugar, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Nextracker. “The US solar market is continuing to demonstrate strong growth. The US Energy Information Administration has forecasted solar to grow 26% on an annual compounded rate and be the number one source of energy in the United States within a decade.”
“We are proud to announce the expansion of this historic steel factory in Pittsburgh — which we have been honored to call our home for more than 100 years,” said Tony Calandra, CEO of Jennmar. “This partnership with Nextracker allows for significant investment in advanced manufacturing and brings high-quality jobs back to our communities. We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring our Pennsylvania-based employee count to more than 500.”
Once the home of a steel mill used to build materials for tank landing ships during World War II, this refurbished facility represents one of many shifts underway in the United States toward domestic manufacturing, a secure supply chain, and clean energy. The Leetsdale steel factory tripled its capacity with the addition of new, dedicated manufacturing lines for solar energy projects creating 60 new manufacturing jobs.
“Jennmar and Nextracker are in a powerful partnership focused on advancing the energy transition and American manufacturing. The future depends on leveraging a diverse portfolio of resources that addresses our environment, energy needs, and economic opportunity,” said Matt Smith, chief growth officer at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. “This is a win at the convergence of two industries that are pivotal to southwestern Pennsylvania — energy and manufacturing — and we’re proud that our region is a key part of the supply chain that’s helping to bring more solar energy to the market.”
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), solar power now accounts for 53% of all new electricity generation in the United States, adding 32.4 GW of solar power in 2023 and surpassing 23.6 GW in the prior year.
To celebrate the new facility expansion, a dedication ceremony was attended by top government officials including David Crane, Under Secretary for Infrastructure at the department of energy (DOE), Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania, Austin Davis, US Congressman Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania’s 17th District, PA State Representative, Valerie Gaydos, and Matt Smith, Chief Growth Officer, Allegheny Conference on Community Development. Also joining the event was Tony Calandra, CEO of Jennmar, and leaders from some of the world’s largest clean energy companies including Kelly Speakes-Backman, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at Invenergy, and Yuri Horowitz, CEO of Sol Systems.
Last year, Nextracker opened a dedicated steel production line in Las Vegas with Unimacts, another in Memphis with MSS Steel Tubes USA, and a self-powered controller and high-voltage power supply line in California with Asteelflash. They have more production lines in Texas, Arizona, and Illinois.
