Electricity costs are rising sharply for manufacturers in the US Rust Belt as data center energy demand strains the PJM Interconnection grid. This is squeezing profit margins for steelmakers and brick factories, potentially undermining President Trump's "Made in America" initiative.
For example, Belden Brick Company in Ohio saw its monthly electricity bill jump from $1,600 to $12,000. The Steel Manufacturers Association warns that steel companies are paying tens of millions more annually, with electricity accounting for 20–40% of steel production costs.
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