By: Russ Spencer

In a move hailed as transformative for America’s energy and technology future, Hitachi Energy announced Thursday a $1 billion investment in U.S. critical electrical grid infrastructure, a sweeping initiative that includes $457 million for a new state-of-the-art large power transformer facility in Virginia. The company said the projects will create thousands of jobs, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and provide the backbone needed to support the nation’s surging energy demand — particularly from the artificial intelligence revolution.

The investment marks one of the most significant commitments yet by a foreign energy technology giant in response to President Trump’s energy dominance agenda and his administration’s AI Action Plan, which has been credited with spurring a wave of onshoring, infrastructure expansion, and industrial renewal across the United States.

At the core of Hitachi Energy’s announcement is the recognition that artificial intelligence, advanced data centers, and next-generation manufacturing require unprecedented levels of reliable electricity. Massive clusters of GPUs powering AI applications, coupled with an industrial renaissance across steel, semiconductor, and battery production, are driving record strain on America’s grid.

By establishing a large transformer manufacturing facility in Virginia, Hitachi Energy aims to supply critical hardware that has long been vulnerable to global supply chain bottlenecks. Transformers — particularly the massive, custom-built units that step up and step down high-voltage power — are indispensable to grid stability. For years, utilities and federal planners have warned that America’s over-reliance on foreign transformer imports posed national security risks.

“Today’s investment strengthens our ability to secure America’s energy future,” a Hitachi Energy spokesperson said. “We are aligning directly with the White House’s vision to not only power the AI revolution but also ensure that the United States remains energy-resilient and globally competitive.”

Hitachi Energy explicitly tied its decision to the White House AI Action Plan, unveiled by President Trump as a cornerstone of his second-term agenda. The plan integrates energy, industrial, and digital policy, recognizing that artificial intelligence cannot flourish without reliable and secure energy infrastructure.

Under the strategy, federal agencies have worked in tandem with private industry to identify critical gaps in power generation, transmission, and manufacturing capacity. The administration’s message has been clear: if America is to remain the world’s AI powerhouse, it must rebuild the physical foundation that supports technological dominance.

“The AI revolution requires energy dominance,” President Trump declared earlier this year. “And energy dominance requires American supply chains, American workers, and American innovation. That is exactly what we are delivering.”

Thursday’s announcement follows what the White House has described as an unprecedented wave of capital investment under Trump’s “America First” trade and energy policies.

Earlier this year, Trump highlighted a $92 billion commitment by leading energy and technology companies to expand AI and energy infrastructure in Pennsylvania, a state that has emerged as a hub for natural gas, energy storage, and data center development.

The administration has also touted major new semiconductor fabs, steel plant reopenings, and clean energy projects — all presented as evidence that the U.S. economy is reindustrializing at scale under Trump’s second term.

Hitachi Energy’s move further underscores the appeal of Trump’s policies to foreign investors who see both security and opportunity in America’s renewed focus on self-reliance.

Experts say the Virginia facility will address one of the most acute vulnerabilities in the U.S. energy system. Large transformers are highly specialized, expensive to transport, and have lead times of 12–24 months when sourced internationally. America imports the majority of its supply, with heavy reliance on East Asian and European manufacturers.

By building a domestic plant, Hitachi Energy will significantly cut delivery times while ensuring critical components are available onshore in times of crisis.

National security officials have long warned that America’s energy grid could be disrupted not only by cyberattacks and physical sabotage, but also by supply chain chokeholds. Trump officials have made clear that fortifying transformer supply is as essential as missile defense or border security.

“This is not just about jobs — it’s about sovereignty,” one senior administration official told reporters. “With this investment, we are taking control of a vital piece of our infrastructure that no adversary can hold hostage.”

Hitachi Energy estimates that the Virginia plant and related supply chain investments will generate thousands of new American jobs, including high-skilled engineering, construction, and manufacturing positions. The company emphasized that it would work closely with community colleges and technical schools to train the next generation of workers in advanced energy technologies.

Local leaders in Virginia hailed the announcement as a once-in-a-generation opportunity. “This facility will be a cornerstone for our region’s economy,” one state official said. “It ties us directly to the future of energy, technology, and national security.”

Hitachi Energy’s move highlights how Trump’s “America First” trade and industrial policy has reshaped corporate decision-making worldwide. Tariffs, incentives for domestic production, and the promise of stable long-term energy demand from AI and industrial expansion have created what one analyst described as “the most favorable U.S. manufacturing climate in decades.”

For Trump, the political payoff is twofold: revitalizing American industry and proving that his policies can draw massive private investment into strategic sectors.

“The world is coming to America,” Trump said during a recent rally. “Because they know this is where the future is being built.”

Hitachi Energy’s $1 billion commitment — and particularly the $457 million Virginia transformer plant — reflects a deepening recognition that AI supremacy and energy security are inseparable goals. By reinforcing America’s grid infrastructure, the investment strengthens the country’s ability to lead the world in both technology and industry.

As the Trump administration continues to trumpet its record on jobs, manufacturing, and trade, Thursday’s announcement will likely be seized upon as proof that the White House’s AI Action Plan is delivering concrete results.

For critics who doubt the sustainability of Trump’s industrial revival, the Virginia plant will stand as a steel-and-concrete rebuttal: a foreign energy giant choosing to invest billions in America’s future because it believes in both the policy framework and the long-term vision.

“Artificial intelligence is the new frontier,” Hitachi Energy’s spokesperson concluded. “And America — with the right energy infrastructure — is leading the way.”