US Forged Rings Inc. (USFR) has announced plans to build a tower fabrication facility and a steel forging plant to support the U.S. offshore wind industry. The company will invest $700 million into the project with the goal of deploying 30 GW by 2030 and 110 GW by 2050. While no site has been selected yet, USFR is evaluating several locations along the East Coast. By partnering with Nucor and Ellwood Quality Steels, the company hopes to produce 100 fully coated towers annually, with a future goal of 200 towers annually. In addition, the steel forging facility is designed to manufacture flanges up to 40 feet in diameter, as well as other components for the nuclear energy, construction, shipping, and mining industries. The two facilities are expected to generate more than 500 jobs for the surrounding area, with production beginning in 2026.
In a recent quote, Giacomo Sozzi, President of USFR, said, “This substantial investment serving U.S. offshore wind was spurred by our confidence in the medium and long-term prospects of the U.S. market, which is in its early phases of development and needs a local supply chain to rely on. These facilities will enable U.S. developers and OEMs to have predictable costs and a reliable supply of vital components. Equally important, the investment will result in direct environmental benefits including the reduction of significant pollution emitted by otherwise shipping these huge components from overseas.”
Investing in American Manufacturing - 2024
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.