The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Sept. 30, edition that Japan's Hitachi is expanding its power transformer factory in Varennes, Que., for the second time in 17 months due to rising electricity demand. The Globe's Nicolas Van Praet writes that the investment of $270-million by Hitachi Energy will enhance manufacturing output at the facility located near Montreal. The investment is on top of a separate $140-million upgrade and modernization announced for the site in April, 2024. Together, Hitachi expects the projects to nearly triple annual production capacity and more than double employment at the site, to at least 900 people. Hitachi Energy Canada director Carla Vicente says, "Nobody I think predicted the increased demand the way we're seeing it in the last two to three years. ... With this expansion, we'll be able to not only continue to serve our utility customers, including Hydro-Quebec, but also some industrial players [which] maybe are struggling a little bit because of the capacity constraints." Canada is investing in energy sovereignty and securing key technology supplies for manufacturing, with the federal and Quebec governments contributing $26-million to the project.