Resilient Structures has switched on a new composite utility pole manufacturing facility in Humble, bringing large-scale production to the Lake Houston industrial corridor after its opening last Tuesday. Company leaders say the plant is launching with more than 200 workers and has room for two additional production lines that could roughly double output and add about 150 more positions, all aimed at getting stronger, longer-lived poles to utilities that are staring down more frequent severe weather.
In a press release via Resilient Structures, the company said an April 28 ribbon-cutting drew local officials and utility partners. CEO John Higgins said, "This facility represents what’s possible when utilities, industry, and communities work together to get ahead of a challenge." The release also noted that the two planned production lines are expected to double the site’s capacity once they are brought online.
Plant Role And Capacity
As reported by Houston Business Journal, the Humble facility already has clearance to double capacity and could hire roughly 250 additional workers, depending on how quickly the new lines are staged. That projection sits alongside Resilient’s own estimate of more than 200 initial hires and about 150 extra roles tied directly to the new lines, putting the project on track to deliver hundreds of local manufacturing jobs in total. Timelines for the additional production lines were not specified in local coverage.
CenterPoint Deal Fueled The Move
The expansion follows a long-term supply agreement with CenterPoint Energy announced in February, designed to support the utility’s Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, according to a Feb. 9 press release via BusinessWire. Company and partner officials said producing poles locally is expected to shorten lead times and cut dependence on overseas supply chains as utilities work to harden the grid. Resilient leadership repeatedly pointed to the CenterPoint relationship as a key reason for scaling up manufacturing in the Houston area.
Why Utilities Are Choosing Composites
Composite poles come with a higher upfront price tag but promise a much longer service life, a trade-off utilities are weighing more seriously as storms intensify. The Houston Chronicle reported that Resilient Structures poles can cost about $5,000 each versus roughly $1,500-$2,000 for a wooden pole, while offering an 80-year projected lifespan. The Humble plant could produce between 20,000 and 25,000 poles per year when it is fully ramped up, according to that report.
Local officials have framed the new facility as a win for the Lake Houston area, and state and community leaders turned out at the opening to spotlight job growth tied to the CenterPoint partnership. Resilient says it is hiring production staff and technicians, and openings along with application details are posted on the company careers page at Resilient Structures.
