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With the potential for severe storms that cause damage to electrical power sources in the Southeastern region of the United States and amid a national transformer shortage, the need to facilitate the domestic manufacturing of transformers is more urgent than ever. The unmet demand for transformers, along with a prolonged wait period for delivery due to supply chain disruptions, may lead to an unprecedented nationwide blackout crisis if not sufficiently addressed.  
 

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), along with members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, wrote to President Joe Biden urging him to address the supply chain shortage of transformers and other necessary electrical resources ahead of the storm season. 

• “We have heard from Local Power Companies serving our region that the availability of transformers is particularly dire… This equipment is important not only for keeping up with economic growth, but for restoring power after storms and other extreme weather events. In the past months, costs are skyrocketing, and lead times for some manufacturers are up to two years – while others are not taking orders at all.”

• “… we request that you direct [the Department of Energy] to temporarily suspend its most recent conservation standards for transformers, which require manufacturers to use more steel than previously required.” 

Click here to read the full letter and see a list of cosigners. 
 
Want more? Rubio previously introduced the Facilitating the Reshoring of Energy Grid Component Manufacturing Act (S. 4626). The bill would establish an energy grid product manufacturing loan program at the U.S. Department of Energy to finance $8 billion in loan guarantees for the re-equipping, expansion, or establishment of domestic energy grid product and component manufacturing facilities in the United States.