Mojave Steel Mill Plans: 700 Jobs Claimed, $600 Million Investment and Energy Questions for Kern County

MOJAVE, Kern County — October 20, 2026. A project to produce construction steel from scrap metal near Mojave is being promoted as California’s first new steel mill in more than half a century. But the most important questions for residents are practical: how many permanent jobs, when could hiring begin, who pays for the power infrastructure, and how will actual pollution be measured?

MOJAVE NEWS · INDUSTRY & JOBS

STEEL · SOLAR · JOBS

Scrap recyclingElectric manufacturingKern County

Original symbolic graphic by California58. Not a photograph of the mill, an architectural rendering or evidence of completed construction.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s October 19 announcement highlights Pacific Steel Group’s proposed Mojave Micro Mill, saying the operation is scheduled to open in 2027. In that announcement, the administration describes a potential 700 jobs. A separate incentive commitment described in the same release refers to nearly 450 new jobs during the first five years. These figures should not be presented as identical or as jobs that already exist.

What is being built near Mojave?

The proposed facility would melt scrap steel in electric equipment and turn it into reinforcing bar, commonly called rebar, used in concrete buildings, roads and bridges. The Governor’s Office describes a main building of approximately 500,000 square feet and a 63-acre solar farm. State officials say the mill is intended to use on-site solar generation and battery storage alongside the electricity grid.

In January 16, 2026 testimony filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), company witnesses described plans for an investment greater than $600 million. That testimony is the company’s advocacy in a utility-rate proceeding, not an independent finding that the project will reach all of its stated goals.

The job figures need context

The Governor’s release projects as many as 700 jobs associated with the mill. Its explanation of a $30 million California Competes tax credit specifies a company commitment of nearly 450 new jobs over the first five years and more than $540 million in investment. The company’s CPUC testimony elsewhere mentions roughly 400 high-paying jobs. The difference may involve separate baselines, years and categories, but the documents do not justify simply adding these estimates together.

Anticipated occupations include electricians, industrial maintenance workers, welders, automation technicians, robotic-systems specialists, engineers and millwrights. These are examples of potential jobs, not an announcement that applications are currently open. Residents should check the employer’s verified hiring channels and accredited local workforce programs before submitting personal information or paying any recruiting service.

How public money is involved

The state’s October announcement reports a $30 million California Competes tax credit tied to investment and hiring commitments. It also cites approval of up to $14 million by the California Energy Commission for a 32-megawatt-hour long-duration battery and a sales-and-use-tax exclusion worth up to $10 million on manufacturing equipment.

These are different kinds of incentives with their own terms. Tax credits are not the same thing as direct construction reimbursements, and “up to” figures are maximum awards rather than proof that every dollar has been disbursed. Local taxpayers deserve follow-up reporting on jobs delivered, project progress, grant milestones and the public benefits promised in exchange.

The unanswered energy question

Steelmaking consumes substantial electricity, even when equipment replaces fossil-fuel combustion. In its CPUC testimony, Pacific Steel Group supported Southern California Edison’s proposed Large Power Dynamic Pricing Rate, arguing that flexible electricity pricing could make local production competitive with imports. It said the plant could adjust parts of production in response to energy prices and grid emergencies.

This does not mean the steel mill would operate only on sunshine. The company describes a combination of renewable generation, batteries, grid power and specialized energy management. The details of electrical demand, cost allocation, reliability and final utility agreements are important questions for the CPUC record and utility regulators.

Does “zero-carbon steel” mean no pollution?

Not automatically. Eliminating natural-gas combustion from a particular manufacturing process is different from proving that an entire facility has zero environmental impacts. The company’s January testimony discussed emissions controls, including a fully enclosed melt shop and technology intended to reduce nitrogen oxides. That description itself recognizes the need to monitor and control emissions.

Any claims about measured local air quality, dust, traffic, water use or community health would need actual permit conditions and monitoring data, not a promotional slogan. California58 has not independently measured emissions from this proposed mill or established that it caused any local exposure.

How much steel could it produce?

The October Governor’s release cited approximately 380,000 tons of rebar per year. January CPUC testimony from the company had projected more than 450,000 tons annually at full capacity. These different stated projections may reflect changing plans or different assumptions; until current engineering and permit records are compared, they should remain attributed to their respective documents, not combined into a single verified production number.

What residents of Mojave and eastern Kern County should track

Opening and hiring milestones: what is built, which jobs are permanent and where opportunities are advertised.
Air and environmental permit records: the applicable agency’s conditions, monitoring requirements and any public hearings.
Electric utility arrangements: rate decisions, reliability obligations and who covers infrastructure costs.
Public incentives: whether the company meets jobs and investment commitments over time.
Local impacts: project traffic, freight routes, water, land use and opportunities for residents to comment.

Primary documents: October 19 official announcement; PSG prepared CPUC testimony, Application A.24-06-014 (PDF). Future reporting will distinguish project commitments from verified results.

Local information, corrections and documented questions can be sent to the Mojave News newsroom. More Mojave News · Support local independent journalism.

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