Resilient Structures Powers Houston Jobs and a Stronger Gulf Coast Grid

HUMBLE, TX – April 29, 2026 – A new manufacturing facility celebrated its grand opening this week, promising a dual-pronged boost to the Houston area: hundreds of high-quality local jobs and a critical reinforcement of the region's vulnerable power grid. Resilient Structures, a leading North American manufacturer of composite utility poles, officially launched production at its new Humble, Texas, site, a strategic move aimed at hardening infrastructure against the increasing threat of severe weather along the Gulf Coast.

The company also announced ambitious plans to double the plant's capacity, an expansion that will bring the total number of new jobs created to over 350 and solidify the region's role as a hub for next-generation infrastructure manufacturing.

A Foundation for Growth and Reliability

The facility's launch on April 28 was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by company executives, utility partners, and local officials, all of whom hailed the project as a model of public-private partnership. The plant will initially create over 200 jobs, with plans already underway to install two additional production lines that are expected to add another 150 jobs once fully operational.

“This facility represents what’s possible when utilities, industry, and communities work together to get ahead of a challenge,” said Resilient Structures CEO John Higgins at the event. “The demand for a stronger, more reliable grid is only increasing, and this facility gives our utility customers the ability to deploy resilient infrastructure faster, at scale, and closer to where it’s needed most.”

The economic ripple effect is a significant boon for the Lake Houston area. Texas State Representative Charles Cunningham praised the investment, stating, “I welcome this new business into the Lake Houston community and know the partnership with CenterPoint will help ensure a reliable grid for the future. The economic growth created by more than 200 new jobs is significant and commendable. Resilient Structures will be a valuable and key partner in our area.”

Beyond Wood and Steel: The Composite Advantage

The poles manufactured in Humble are not the traditional wooden structures seen lining most American roads. They are high-performance composite poles, engineered from materials like glass fiber and a proprietary resin formula to offer vast improvements in durability, lifespan, and safety.

Unlike wood poles, which have a service life of 20-30 years and are susceptible to rot, insects, and moisture, composite poles are designed to last 70-80 years or more. They are impervious to the decay, corrosion, and woodpecker damage that plague their wooden counterparts. This longevity dramatically reduces long-term maintenance and replacement costs for utilities.

Furthermore, composite poles offer critical environmental benefits. Traditional wood poles are treated with hazardous chemicals like pentachlorophenol, a known carcinogen, to prevent decay. These chemicals pose handling risks and can leach into soil and groundwater, leading to complex and costly disposal procedures. Composite poles are chemically inert, eliminating this environmental hazard.

In a region prone to wildfires, the material's fire resistance is another key advantage. While not entirely fireproof, composite poles can withstand significant exposure to flames with no loss of structural strength, a feature that could prevent downed lines and reduce the risk of utility equipment sparking further fires—a stark lesson from recent Texas wildfires like the Smokehouse Creek fire, which was linked to a failed wooden pole.

Fortifying the Front Lines of Climate Change

The new facility’s location is no accident. The Gulf Coast is on the front lines of climate change, facing increasingly frequent and intense hurricanes and tropical storms that wreak havoc on the electrical grid. Power outages caused by severe weather have doubled across the United States in the past two decades, and Texas has endured its share of catastrophic events, from Hurricane Beryl to the widespread blackouts during Winter Storm Uri in 2021.

In response, utilities are aggressively pursuing grid hardening initiatives. The Humble plant's primary customer, CenterPoint Energy, is undertaking a massive “Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative” to strengthen its network. A core component of this strategy is replacing older, vulnerable poles with stronger, wind-resistant alternatives. The utility installed over 10,000 storm-resilient poles in the first quarter of 2026 alone, and the new local supply from Resilient Structures is set to accelerate that effort.

The market reflects this urgency. The global composite utility pole market, valued at over $3 billion, is projected to grow significantly, with some forecasts predicting a compound annual growth rate as high as 20% over the next decade. This demand is driven by the stark financial and societal costs of grid failure and the clear performance advantages of modern materials.

Bolstering Domestic Supply Chains for Critical Infrastructure

Beyond regional resilience, the Houston facility represents a crucial step in strengthening America's domestic manufacturing base for critical infrastructure. By producing these essential components in Texas, the company helps insulate utilities from the price volatility and delays associated with global supply chains.

This onshoring of production ensures that the materials fortifying the American grid are made by the people who rely on it. It also provides significant logistical benefits. Composite poles are up to 80% lighter than wood, reducing transportation costs and simplifying installation. Smaller crews can often handle the work without heavy machinery, a major advantage when restoring power or building new lines in remote or difficult-to-access terrain.

The strategic importance of this investment is underscored by the company's backing from major investment firms like Energy Impact Partners and the Werklund Growth Fund, which specialize in the energy transition. Their support signals strong confidence that building a more resilient grid with domestically produced, advanced materials is not just good for public safety, but a powerful economic strategy for the future.

As production ramps up in Humble, the facility will serve as more than just a factory; it is a strategic hub for long-term grid modernization, helping to ensure that when the next storm hits, the lights stay on for more communities across the Gulf Coast.