Pittsburgh Area Snags $122 Mil Fuel Cell Plant

PITTSBURGH-Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp. has selected Munhall, Allegheny County as the location for a 430,000-sf fuel cell manufacturing plant. The Pittsburgh-area site was chosen from a short-list that included Orlando and Dallas-Fort Worth.

Construction of the $122 million facility, to be located in the area’s mixed-use Waterfront development, is scheduled to begin almost immediately and continue in phases over five years. A 180,000-sf facility is scheduled to be completed next year and be operational by spring 2003. Initial employment will be roughly 150 and is expected to reach up to 500 when the project is completed in 2006.

Pittsburgh Regional Alliance president and CEO Ronnie Bryant says that as head of Southwestern PA’s economic development organization he worked closely with Siemens Westinghouse to showcase the area’s assets. “Siemens Westinghouse heard our message. Today’s new Pittsburgh region offers significant advantages that must be considered when business expansion or relocation decisions are evaluated.”