GE Vernova is putting $34.5 million into its Shreveport transformer manufacturing plant, a move the company says will create 175 new jobs while retaining 637 existing positions at the facility. The expansion, announced Tuesday, also carries a state-backed incentive and is expected to ripple outward with as many as 360 total job opportunities across the Northwest Region.
A Decades-Old Plant Gears Up for Growing Grid Demand
The investment targets GE Vernova Transformers Shreveport LLC's existing 500,000-square-foot plant at 7000 W. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, according to GE Vernova. General Electric broke ground on the facility in 1969, with transformer production beginning the following year, and it has been part of the region's industrial backbone ever since, per KTBS. The planned upgrades include new manufacturing equipment, process improvements and supporting infrastructure, the station reports, and are expected to increase production of industrial and renewable energy transformers.
Among the products rolling out of the plant are transformers built for digital factories and battery energy storage applications, the station's report notes. Philippe Piron said electricity demand is growing and that transformers remain critical grid equipment, adding that the investment builds on more than five decades of Shreveport manufacturing expertise, as reported by New Orleans CityBusiness. Engineering and equipment procurement are already underway, with installation expected to continue through 2027 and full production capacity projected for 2028.
Jobs and State Incentives Tied to the Expansion
Louisiana Economic Development projects the project will generate 185 indirect jobs on top of the 175 direct positions, and the state offered GE Vernova Transformers Shreveport LLC a $300,000 performance-based grant for site and infrastructure improvements, according to Louisiana Economic Development. The company is also expected to participate in the state's Quality Jobs Program and its Industrial Tax Exemption Program, which provides an 80% property-tax abatement for up to 10 years on new manufacturing investments, per the agency's program page.
Susan B. Bourgeois said the expansion supports long-term job growth and creates opportunities for Louisiana workers, according to New Orleans CityBusiness. Tom Arceneaux said Shreveport supports the $34.5 million expansion and values its partnership with Louisiana Economic Development, while Justyn Dixon said the project reflects the company's success locally and confidence in north Louisiana, the outlet reported.
Part of a Broader National Push
The Shreveport project fits into a larger spending plan: GE Vernova has said it intends to invest nearly $1.3 billion across its U.S. manufacturing facilities and research centers between 2025 and 2028, per its own announcement. Utility Dive notes the company has pointed to growing electricity demand nationwide as a driver behind the transformer capacity push. The Shreveport plant isn't new to expansion either — a previous Prolec GE expansion at the same site was described by Louisiana Economic Development as creating more than 300 new job opportunities, though details on that project's investment size were not specified in the agency's materials.
