Energy
Bechtel, Kiewit Sign Deal to Work on US Energy Infrastructure Tied to $550B Japan Investment
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Bechtel CEO Brendan Bechtel signed an agreement in Tokyo for work on Japan-financed energy infrastructure in this country during the recent presidential visit.
Japan’s previously announced commitment to invest $550 billion in the U.S. includes $332 billion toward American energy infrastructure work, the White House announced Oct. 28—with contractors Bechtel and Kiewit Corp. signed on to support the effort, officials said.
The two firms, which rank No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, on the ENR 2025 Top 400 Contractors, will provide engineering, procurement, construction and other services to build power plants, substations and transmission systems under the framework agreement signed by President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the former's recent trip to Asia.
The infrastructure will support data centers and advanced manufacturing, according to Bechtel. The company announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Dept. of Commerce to support Japan’s investment.
“Leadership in technology begins with leadership in infrastructure,” Bechtel Chair and CEO Brendan Bechtel said in a statement. “Before you can unlock computing power and power the next generation of AI, you have to design and build its enabling infrastructure.”
A Kiewit spokesperson said via email that the company “is ready to support the U.S. government and our strategic partners in designing and constructing the expansive power infrastructure needed to meet current and future technology demand across the country.”
Another piece of the $332 billion will go toward construction of Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs), according to the White House. Westinghouse also reached tentative terms this week with Commerce for at least $80 billion worth of its AP1000 reactors to be built in the U.S.
Japan’s investment package will also support construction of SMRs in collaboration with GE Vernova and Hitachi, a supply of large-scale baseload power infrastructure from ENTRA1 Energy and natural gas transmission and power infrastructure services from Kinder Morgan, White House officials said.
Other firms involved in the investment plans include SoftBank Group Corp., Toshiba, Carrier, Mitsubishi Electric, TDK, Murata Manufacturing and Panasonic.
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