The Great Lakes region, spanning from Minnesota to Pennsylvania, is a steel manufacturing powerhouse, accounting for 60% of all steel production capacity in the United States and 100% of coal-based steel production. It is also a highly energy and emissions intensive region: per capita greenhouse gas emissions in the Great Lakes are 20% higher than the United States average. The Great Lakes region could emerge as a leader in near-zero-emissions steel production. US federal policy support for industrial decarbonization has already arrived in the form of the IRA, CHIPS, and IIJA.
Cutting steel sector emissions is essential to limiting global warming to 1.5°C by 2050, and to accomplish this goal, decarbonization and economic strategies must include ambitious action in the Great Lakes. To help state policymakers, economic development offices, and regional NGOs support the Great Lakes steel industry transition, RMI has produced this report “Transforming the US Steel Industry: A Great Lakes Memo Series” a series of state-specific memos that outline:
- The scale and enabling environment required for near-zero-emissions steel production
- Gaps and opportunities for policymakers and other state-level actors to support via policy and infrastructure projects
- Specific site outlook and recommendations at the facility level
Access the complete report here
