# America’s grid upgrade hinges on a 400-ton machine designed in the 1800s — and just one U.S. mill makes the special steel inside it

- Source: Fortune | FORTUNE
- Published: 2026-11-04T19:39:22+00:00
- Category: Business
- Original: https://fortune.com/2026/11/04/power-transformer-shortage-grid-400-ton-electrical-steel-one-us-mill/
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/america-s-grid-upgrade-hinges-on-a-400-ton-machine-designed-in-the-180-38cca7/

Between 2019 and 2025, demand for generator step-up transformers, those that connect power plants to the transmission grid, nearly tripled.

_Ground Level News shows a short summary only; the full article and all rights belong to Fortune | FORTUNE._