“We are excited by the tremendous promise of CMC’s third micro mill,” Barbara R. Smith, chairman, president and CEO of Commercial Metals Co. said in a statement. “This is a smart growth initiative that feeds the large underlying West Coast demand for rebar and merchant bar, replacing inefficient existing rebar capacity with environmentally friendly technology. By monetizing the significant value associated with our Southern California real estate, this lowers the project’s capital requirements and increases its returns.”

The mill will cost about $300 million to construct and is scheduled to be operational in early 2023. The mill will be constructed adjacent to the company’s existing Mesa facility, east of Signal Butte Road on Germann Road. The company is still working on the permitting, site plan approval and incentive processes with the city and state.

The new facility is expected to employ about 185 people. The new site will help the company meet demand for rebar and merchant bar quality products, according to a company announcement.

Tracy Porter, executive vice president and COO, said the site will include a solar array to provide power for the facility, and will use advanced technology and a continuous steelmaking process, which will make the plant “one of the most efficient steel producers in the world.”