America is hungry for electricity. Between the rising number of data centers that power AI chatbots and cloud computing systems to electric vehicles to new home construction to trends in manufacturing, we need more electricity going into the system and upgrades to the distribution grid to safely deliver that power to users.

Early Thursday, electronics manufacturing Flex announced plans to build a new facility near Dallas, Texas, to make switchgear and other components necessary to support data centers. The so-called power pods include all of the major components needed to add adequate power for electric-hungry data processing facilities. 

And the Flex news follows recent announcements from Eaton Corp. and Schneider Electric on similar investments in grid-supporting components. ArcelorMittal recently announced a $1.2 billion plant in Alabama to make speciality steel for electrical applications as well.

Major electrical equipment manufacturers are boosting production of transformers and switches to make that happen. Our editors roundtable from Endeavor Business Media (owner of IndustryWeek) include:

• Chris Butler, president of Embedded and Critical Power at Flex
• Nikki Chandler, group editorial director for T&D World, EnergyTech and Microgrid Knowledge
• Sara Jensen, executive editor of Power & Motion
• Robert Schoenberger, editor-in-chief of IndustryWeek
• Matt Vincent, editor-in-chief of Data Center Frontier