US Grid Supply Boost
Trench Group Invests $60 Million, Opens First U.S. Bushing Facility in Charlotte
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Trench Group has opened its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, becoming what it says will be the country's first domestic producer of high-voltage transformer bushings. The more than $60 million investment covers a 170,000-square-foot plant capable of making bushings from 25kV up to 765kV — critical components that help high-voltage electricity move safely through the grid, according to Chatham Daily News.
The facility is expected to create up to 140 manufacturing and engineering jobs in Charlotte by 2030. It will nearly double its original production target, ramping up from 3,500 to as many as 10,000 bushings per year, The Province reported.
Why America Urgently Needs Homegrown Transformer Parts
Transformer bushings are the insulators that let high-voltage electricity pass safely into and out of a transformer. Without them, the grid cannot function. Until now, the U.S. had no domestic producer of these parts at the highest voltage levels, leaving utilities dependent on foreign suppliers, according to Fort McMurray Today.
The timing is urgent. A 2026 NEMA study projects U.S. power demand will grow more than 55% by 2050. Data centers, electric vehicles, and new factories are all driving that surge. A domestic supply of critical grid components reduces the risk of long delays when utilities need to upgrade or repair infrastructure, Leader-Post reported.
Charlotte Plant to Produce Bushings Up to 765kV
The Charlotte facility will manufacture bushings across a wide voltage range — from 25kV for local distribution lines up to 765kV for the highest-capacity transmission lines in North America. That upper range is especially significant. Very few manufacturers anywhere in the world produce components at that voltage level, Mitchell Advocate noted.
At full capacity, the plant will produce up to 10,000 bushings per year. That nearly doubles the initial target set when the project was first announced. The 170,000-square-foot site gives Trench Group room to scale production further as demand grows, according to The Observer.
$60 Million Bet on U.S. Grid Investment Boom
Trench Group's more than $60 million investment reflects a broader bet that U.S. grid spending will stay high for decades. Utilities, tech companies, and the federal government are all pouring money into transmission upgrades. That creates steady long-term demand for exactly the kind of high-voltage components the Charlotte plant will make, Whitecourt Star reported.
The facility also fits a wider push to bring critical infrastructure manufacturing back to the U.S. Relying on overseas suppliers for essential grid parts carries real risk — long lead times, shipping disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainty can all delay repairs to the power system Americans depend on every day, according to Clinton News-Record.
140 New Jobs and a Long-Term Charlotte Commitment
Trench Group says the plant will add up to 140 jobs in Charlotte by 2030. Those positions will span manufacturing, engineering, and technical roles. The company's choice of Charlotte reflects the city's strong workforce pipeline and its position as a growing hub for energy and industrial sectors, The Province reported.
The opening marks a long-term commitment to U.S. operations. As the grid expands to meet rising electricity demand, the Charlotte facility is positioned to supply utilities across the country with domestically made, high-voltage components — reducing dependence on imports for some of the grid's most essential parts, according to Chatham Daily News.
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