Cleveland-Cliffs has announced a significant investment of $150 million to produce electrical transformers at a West Virginia facility that had closed earlier this year. The company plans to reopen the Weirton facility in early 2026 with the aim of addressing the critical shortage of distribution transformers in the United States, which is hindering economic growth.
Up to 600 union workers who were previously laid off from the Weirton tin production plant will have the opportunity to work at the new facility. The tin plant ceased operations in February, affecting 900 workers after the International Trade Commission rejected imposing tariffs on tin imports.
West Virginia is supporting this initiative by providing a $50 million forgivable loan as part of Cleveland-Cliffs' investment. Governor Jim Justice expressed determination in preserving these jobs, stating, 'We were never going to sit on the sidelines and watch these jobs disappear.'
Cleveland-Cliffs, headquartered in Cleveland and employing 28,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada, anticipates that the new facility will create additional demand for specialty steel produced at its mill in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Lourenco Goncalves, the president, chairman, and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, emphasized the importance of distribution transformers, highlighting their critical role in maintaining, expanding, and decarbonizing America's electric grid.
The Weirton facility, previously operated by Weirton Steel on an expansive 800-acre property, employed 6,100 workers in 1994 before filing for bankruptcy protection in 2003. International Steel Group acquired Weirton Steel in 2003 through federal bankruptcy court proceedings. The property later became part of Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal, which sold its U.S. assets to Cleveland-Cliffs in 2020.
Weirton, a city with a population of 19,000 residents situated along the Ohio River approximately 40 miles west of Pittsburgh, is poised to benefit from the revitalization of the Weirton facility and the reemployment opportunities it will bring to the region.
