Hitachi Energy invests $528M in Mississippi, adds 654 jobs

Hitachi Energy plans to invest $528 million to expand its transformer manufacturing operations in Copiah County, a project expected to create 654 new jobs and stand as the company's largest investment in the United States.

The expansion will build on Hitachi Energy's existing presence in Copiah County, where the company now employs 475 workers producing small power transformers, according to the Mississippi Development Authority. The project includes a new manufacturing facility on a 45-acre site at the Copiah County Industrial Park in Gallman, along with new manufacturing equipment and infrastructure improvements.

Construction is expected to begin later this year, and production is planned to start in 2029.

The announcement was made by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves at the G20 Summit in Houston. He appeared alongside Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin, member of the government of Japan and Hitachi Energy CEO Andreas Schierenbeck.

Expansion tied to power demand

State officials said the project is aimed at meeting growing demand for electrical infrastructure from utilities, manufacturers and data centers across North America. According to MDA, the expansion will significantly increase Hitachi Energy's production capacity and broaden the range of small power transformers made domestically.

"This is truly a massive win for Mississippi and the United States", Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement released by MDA. "Hitachi Energy could've made its largest investment in America anywhere in the country, but the company chose Mississippi."

"Reliable energy infrastructure has become one of the most important factors in economic growth, and that starts with the ability to manufacture the equipment that keeps the grid running", MDA Executive Director Bill Cork said in a statement.

"At $528 million, Hitachi Energy's expansion is a massive addition to the investment taking place in Mississippi and puts Copiah County at the center of an industry that is increasingly critical to economic development."

Schierenbeck said the investment reflects rising electricity demand and the need for additional grid equipment.

"Demand for electricity is growing rapidly, and the grid must grow with it", Schierenbeck said in a statement released through MDA. "This investment in Mississippi, our largest ever in the U.S., reflects our long-term commitment to American manufacturing and building the grid infrastructure that will help power America's growth for decades to come."

Part of broader manufacturing activity

The Hitachi Energy project adds to a series of economic development announcements in Mississippi and is notable because it expands an existing employer's operations in the state. The investment is expected to more than double the company's employment footprint in Copiah County once the new positions are filled.

Copiah County officials said the project will reinforce one of the area's largest industrial employers.

"Copiah County Economic Development District is grateful for the decision of Hitachi Energy to invest $528 million into expanding the domestic transformer production located in Copiah County", Arthur Evans Jr., executive director of the Copiah County Economic Development District, said in a statement provided by MDA.

MDA said it is assisting the project through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program, and helping fund site development and infrastructure improvements. Copiah County also is participating in the project.

Workforce preparation ahead

State workforce leaders said training and preparation for the incoming jobs will be a focus as the project moves ahead.

"This expansion is about more than adding 654 jobs", AccelerateMS Executive Director Courtney Taylor said in a statement released through MDA. "It will create new career pathways and generational opportunity across Copiah County and the surrounding region."

If completed as announced, the project would bring Hitachi Energy's Mississippi workforce to more than 1,100 employees and rank among the largest private-sector investments ever made in Copiah County, according to figures released by MDA.

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