JM Steel and Nextracker power U.S. solar growth, creating jobs for locals

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — JM Steel in Leetsdale, Pa., has been producing has been producing American-made steel components to expand the footprint of solar energy.

The company teamed up with Nextracker to create a solar product.

And it’s expanding jobs to the Ohio Valley.

JM Steel was founded in 2000, and the facility in Leetsdale opened in June 2022, producing critical steel components for solar power plants in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region.

“We grew up in the mining industry and now here we are, the backbone for American solar power,” said Tony Calandra, CEO, JM Steel. “We’re proud to be a part of the energy transition right here in energy-rich Pennsylvania.”

JM Steel is expanding to accommodate the increasing demands from Nextracker to source local, American-made steel and bringing in folks from across the tri-state area to help them do that.

“We have people driving in from Weirton, Steubenville,” Calandra said. “We’re right in the middle, of steel country.”

Mill Supervisor Justina Whipkey drives 45 minutes to work each day but says the commute is well worth it.

“One thing that stands out, we’re American-based, we’re here to provide for the country,” she said. “And these jobs aren’t going anywhere for some time. There’s a lot of pride here.”

Especially with a lot of conversation surrounding big steel corporations like U.S. Steel and Cleveland Cliffs.

Ivy Fish drives from Columbiana County and says jobs like hers aren’t common anymore.

“The fact I was offered a job here, I snatched it up as soon as I could,” Fish said.

The steel used is 100 percent made in the U.S.

A lot of it is from local providers like U.S. Steel, and they’re making clean energy jobs through it.

Nextracker Founder Dan Shugar says while the concept of solar continues to grow, they are keeping some of the steel history within the plant.

The facility was a former Bethlehem Steel Plant that made landing craft in World War II to support the Normandy landing.

“Now this facility is on a new campaign, making products that are used in U.S. Solar, which is furthering the U.S. energy independence, while we’re lowering costs for customers.”

And while the expansion will bring 60 jobs with it –making their grand total 130 employees — Shugar says they’re just getting started.

“We’re going to keep investing, creating jobs,” he said. “Solar is going to keep lowering the costs. The U.S. Energy Administration is forecasting within 10 years solar will be the No. 1 source of generating power in the United States.”