The East Texas company, which primarily makes agricultural, livestock and rodeo products, is allowed under the Inflation Reduction Act to further expand green energy production on its 300-acre campus.
The law — a $737 billion congressional program designed to spur investment in the energy transition with new tax breaks — makes it more profitable for Priefert Manufacturing to make solar mounting and tracking equipment for Mount Pleasant, Oakland-based Nevados Engineering.
Priffert has been working with Nevados since 2021 to develop torque tubes for one of the company's solar systems. By expanding these relationships, Priefert will increase its workforce by 900 employees over the next two years, said Rocky Christenberry, executive vice president of Priefert Steel.
The company currently employs about 40 to 50 people making Nevados products, but Christenberry said he expects that number to grow.
"Right now we're installing another part that requires three rigs — think about the material handling and all the shipping," he said. "There's a lot of manipulation going on here, so it's going to move pretty quickly." »
Christenberry said the bill's tax breaks simply allow more investment in solar generation. These incentives are intended to ensure that components of clean energy technologies are manufactured in the United States.
"It's no secret that our economy is on the brink of recession, and different departments in our company are critical to stability," he said. "Now it is proven that energy, infrastructure and everything related to it are becoming more expensive. So it made sense for us to acquire Nevado when the opportunity arose.
The combination of the law and Texas' promising future in solar energy made it imperative for Nevados to partner with Priefert, said Jenna Maidbrey, Nevados chief business officer.
"The carbon footprint of shipping anywhere in the US from Texas is as low as possible," he said. "As gas-fired power plants close and the electricity load on the grid increases, it's clear that we need more solar power, regardless of the technology used."
Priffert will build the Nevados tracking system and solar panels that can be deployed on mountainous terrain, eliminating the need to level the land with bulldozers and trucks, Christenberry said. Viewers can also tilt the solar panels to track the movement of the sun.
Nevados will sell its products to Ampliform, Cupertino Electric, BlueWave, Cogent Renewables, CF Energy, DE Shaw Renewable Investments, Primoris Renewable Energy and others, Maidbray said.
Although Nevados operates in the United States, Maidbray said he could envision the company expanding internationally within three years as demand for solar power grows.
"They're all facing the same problems and trying to solve the same problem," he said. "Thus, the opportunities at the global level are huge. It's big in the United States, but we believe it's even bigger around the world because of grid electrification and climate change.
Christenberry said he saw the impact of the extensive work extending beyond Mount Pleasant, about two hours northeast of Dallas.
"His influence here is immeasurable," Christenberry said. "From here it will go to a construction site used by hundreds of people and connect to the power grid that supplies our homes and workplaces. Because it touches everyone's life.
Waste by-products can also generate additional revenue for both companies, Christenberry said.
“Our waste stream is something we constantly monitor. If it ends up in the trash, it's a waste of money for everyone, and I have to charge Nevados a fee for it,” he said. "But we think we can use it elsewhere, whether it's for farm equipment or the trailer industry or something else."
Priffert has a team responsible for finding ways to reuse his waste, including the "waste king". Christenberry said the company is discussing ways to reuse the scrap with scrap companies.
While Texas is a leader in solar energy, it is also a frequent target of critics who see it as a less reliable source than fossil-fueled power plants.
Christenberry said Priffert will continue at a high pace. “This industry provides electricity during evening peak hours. It makes sense to do so.
For Priffert and East Texas, it's an important deal that shows how federal programs can impact small communities, Christenberry said.
The law provided billions of dollars in tax credits to encourage the installation of energy-efficient technologies in homes, the purchase of electric vehicles and investments in renewable energy generation.
"The world is changing every day. "Solar power may have been around for a long time, but it's new to a lot of people," he said. "I don't know why anyone would object. We must find a way to meet today's energy demands. I hope this helps for the value.
PREPARE NOW! THEY PLAN TO TURN OFF THE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE THIS WINTER.
