Department of Energy released a final rule that allows American steel to continue to be used for electricity transformer production
Over 1,200 workers at Butler Works were at risk of losing their jobs and livelihoods before DOE adjusted its rule
Casey pressed Secretary Granholm to make changes to rule on behalf of PA workers
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) applauded the Department of Energy (DOE) for listening to the concerns of Pennsylvania energy workers and adjusting its rule on transformers, a key part of energy grids, to continue to use grain-oriented electrical steel made at the Bulter Works facility in Butler County. After concerns that the DOE rule in its previous form would shutter the last domestic grain oriented electrical steel plant, which employs 1,200 workers in Butler County, Casey pushed the administration to listen to concerns of community stakeholders and to change the rule to prioritize an American-made supply chain.
“The Butler Works facility is the bedrock of the community, employing over 1,200 workers with good-paying jobs to support their families,” said Senator Casey. “With this final rule, the Department of Energy listened to the concerns of Pennsylvania workers and made adjustments so Butler Workers could continue to produce Pennsylvania-made steel for electricity transformers. I’ll continue to work with Cleveland-Cliffs and the United Auto Workers to ensure that Pennsylvania workers remain integral to our energy supply chain.”
Senator Casey has been pushing the Department of Energy to adjust its proposal rule on electricity transformers for a year. Casey signed a bipartisan letter to the Department of Energy opposing the rule in June 2023. He also met with Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves in June 2023 to discuss the rule. Casey cosponsored the bipartisan Distribution Transformer Efficiency & Supply Chain Reliability Act in January 2024. Senator Casey’s staff has meet with local UAW members—which represents over 1,000 workers at Butler Works—to hear their concerns about the rule’s impacts on the facility. Casey spoke directly with Energy Secretary Granholm and his office has also met with top Department of Energy officials to express concern about the rule.
