Manufacturing in Action

On the banks of the Ohio River, about 20 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, a steel plant that once supplied material for World War II naval vessels is now producing American-made steel components for large-scale solar energy projects.

Driven by surging energy demand from the rapid build-out of AI data centers, electrification, and a renewed focus on supply chain security, the nationwide expansion of clean energy manufacturing is increasing the need for domestically produced industrial materials — including the structural steel used in solar tracker systems.

In April 2022, Nextpower partnered with steel manufacturer JM Steel to reopen the historic Bethlehem Steel manufacturing plant in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, producing torque tubes used in Nextpowerʼs solar arrays. Bethlehem Steel established the Leetsdale facility in 1904.

The plant sat largely dormant for decades, with dirt floors still visible as recently as 2022. Today, it has been rebuilt to manufacture steel components for solar energy projects nationwide, bringing new industrial activity back to a historic American steel town. The recent expansion increased the facility’s dedicated solar manufacturing lines to 4 GW of annual production capacity—enough to support millions of solar panels deployed each year.

“JENNMAR and Nextpower are in a powerful partnership focused on advancing the energy transition and American manufacturing… 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.” – Matt Smith, Allegheny Conference on Community Development

The partnership has since grown to include a major facility expansion in 2024 and the launch of a new steel production line in Sinton, Texas, supplying solar projects across the U.S.

At JM Steelʼs Leetsdale facility, massive steel coils are formed into torque tubes—the rotating backbone of single-axis solar trackers that allow solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day.

These precision-engineered components are shipped to solar projects across the country, where they support tracker systems produced by Nextpower.

In Texas, JM Steel operates alongside Steel Dynamics’ mill near Corpus Christi, allowing newly produced American steel to move directly into fabrication and supply solar projects in one of the fastest-growing and biggest solar markets: Texas and the southern United States.

“JM Steel’s proximity to SDI [provides] Nextpower and their customers cost-effective products with quick response times to feed the growing solar market in Texas and the South.” – Tony Calandra, CEO, JENNMAR / JM Steel

For solar manufacturers and project developers, domestic production provides greater certainty in both cost and delivery timelines.

“Customers want protection from steel and logistics cost volatility, and logistics delays associated with shipping, containers, and ports. We are migrating to domestic production to stabilize pricing and achieve superior on-time delivery for our customers.” – Dan Shugar, CEO, Nextpower

A dependable steel supply is central to utility-scale solar, which is now the lowest-cost form of energy in many locations nationwide. From western Pennsylvania to South Texas, the growing deployment of clean energy is driving new demand for American steel and supporting the resurgence of domestic manufacturing.

Since the beginning of JM Steel and Nextpowerʼs partnership, the Leetsdale facility has added 60 new manufacturing jobs.

For many employees, the chance to work at the revitalized Leetsdale facility came at exactly the right moment.

At JM Steelʼs Leetsdale and Sinton facilities, workers operate forming machines, inspect finished torque tubes, and prepare components for shipment to solar projects across the country. The reopening and expansion of the plant has created new manufacturing opportunities in communities long defined by steel production.

“The fact I was offered a job here, I snatched it up as soon as I could.” –Ivy Fish, JM Steel Employee

Today, the facility supports skilled manufacturing roles tied directly to building America’s energy.

“JM Steel’s long history of American manufacturing positions us as a strong partner in supporting Nextpower’s reshoring efforts. Our workforce takes pride in delivering the quality and reliability needed to strengthen domestic infrastructure.” – Negley Rogers, Vice President of Solar Operations, JM Steel

For the workers at Leetsdale and Sinton, the resurgence of steel production is more than an industrial shift—it is steady work, renewed opportunity, and a chance to help build Americaʼs clean energy infrastructure with their own hands.