r/MiddletownOhio • u/BuckeyeReason • Jul 03 '25
Report: Cleveland-Cliffs cancels $500M Middletown steel mill project
A project to convert the Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown steel mill to hydrogen from coal, greatly reducing Greater Cincinnati's air pollution and ensuring the economic viability of the major regional employer, appears to have been abandoned. The Trump administration's rollback of Inflation Reduction Act grants and development of hydrogen infrastructure reportedly caused Cleveland-Cliffs to abandon the project, according to the following articles.
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (WKRC) - A significant hydrogen-conversion project at the Cleveland-Cliffs steel mill in Middletown was facing cancellation after the Trump administration appeared to rescind a $527 million grant intended for the initiative....
Yong Kwon of the Sierra Club highlighted the plant's significant environmental impact, noting it is one of Ohio's largest polluters. He said it emits the third-highest amount of carbon monoxide statewide and the sixth-highest amount of soot.
The project would have involved replacing coal-reliant blast furnaces with hydrogen-ready direct-reduced iron plants and electric melting furnaces....
The planned switch from a coal-based steel plant to hydrogen was expected to create 1,200 union construction jobs and protect 2,500 existing positions....
The project was also projected to achieve cost savings for the plant of $450 million annually through efficiency gains and it improved the pollution outlook for the Middletown community surrounding the mill.
According to a recent report from industrious labs, the plant’s coke supplier contributes to anywhere from 45 to 82 premature deaths and more than $2 billion dollars in health-related costs across Ohio each year. Coke comes from coal and is a fuel and reducing agent used to produce iron ore in blast furnaces.
[Hilary Lewis, the steel director with Industrious Labs, an environmental organization working to decarbonize heavy industry] said those health-related costs from the plant’s coke supplier include over 7,000 cases of asthma symptoms and multiple ER visits annually.
“But when you look at a clean hydrogen-based facility, many of these pollutants are nearly eliminated or dramatically reduced," she said.
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u/Accomplished-Cow5716 Jul 04 '25
This is old news. When the first announcement came out I said to the then city manager and others that this investment would never happen. I was laughed at.
Frankly, Cliffs has no reason to have this plant open in Middletown. It's antiquated, it's an abomination - it's in a no longer advantageous location....there's lots of reasons.
Cliffs acquired this - and we all know how corporations treat the companies they acquire.
I've been saying that by 2040 at the latest - and I now believe even sooner - that Cliffs will shutter their entire operation including the research facility out at the highway.
Middletown is destined to become like so many other cities who spent most of their existence babying one single employer...a vast wasteland of what USED to be.
We're already there when you look at all the industry that has already LEFT Middletown...if Cliffs pulls out - it's over for this city.
We've got people clamoring to save 'historic' buildings at the cost of many millions of dollars - yet those same people haven't a clue that the city (most of which has already turned to homeless encampments, tent cities, drug abusers) is about to be from the river to the interstate all the same as their beloved downtown.
Middletown needs a replacement IMMEDIATELY for Cliffs - get it in place before they kill off the Middletown Works entirely.
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u/BuckeyeReason Jul 04 '25
What impressed me is that the hydrogen conversion reportedly would have saved $400 million annually, in addition to slashing air pollution. Such a reduction in costs surely would have improved the Cliffs plant viability and sustainability.
I'm surprised that Middletown's leaders and population aren't outraged over the loss of this project.
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u/Accomplished-Cow5716 Jul 05 '25
I can say that as a current Middletonian, the outrage happened in 1993. Since then, it's been a continual decline. The real attitude is just disappointment.
We all know the day is coming! We all knew (except for the city fathers) when this deal was annonunced there was no way it was coming.
Middletown has the wrong type of government, wrong elected officials and wrong city staff. I'm sure the moderators will slap my hand now because I brought up politics...but from the mayor to the lowest employee this city is as messed up as it can be.
Council continues to make horrific choices for city manager. The new one (well, I'll leave the rumors about how she got to this level and who it also involved for another day) has the management skills of a concrete block. More of city council just picking the next person in line. Many confidentially said they weren't going to look at either of the 'assistant city managers' (as if there's enough going on in this town for a City Manager and TWO Assistant Managers) to replace the former fire chief who also wasn't qualified either yet they hired one anyway.
Again - it's been something we've all known was going to happen at some point and our city leaders only go court Cliffs/AK whenever there's a threat or rumor about it being closed.
With worldwide competiton, even with tariffs, I don't see Cliffs keeping this physical plant open more than 5-7 years.
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u/BuckeyeReason Jul 05 '25
What about losing the ability to greatly reduce air pollution with the abandonment of this project?
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u/Accomplished-Cow5716 Jul 05 '25
What about it?
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u/BuckeyeReason Jul 05 '25
???
Don't understand your response.
Are you saying Middletown residents don't care about how much replacing coal with hydrogen would have reduced dangerous levels of air pollution, as described in the OP?
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u/Accomplished-Cow5716 Jul 05 '25
I'm not saying that. You're saying that.
I believe the average Middletonian just isn't that much into environmental concerns as others are, including yourself. I see all your posts about places all over the world and their 'climate' change. I get who you are and what you believe.
That being said, you appear to be all-in on climate change where the rest of us just aren't. It doesn't make either of us right or wrong.
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u/BuckeyeReason Jul 05 '25 edited Jul 05 '25
Climate change and air pollution are devastating, and most Americans increasingly are becoming concerned.
Unfortunately, Republican politicians currently are essentially climate change deniers promoting fossil fuel consumption, and Democrats shockingly don't aggressively promote climate change realities or critique Republican actions.
Older northern Ohioans whom I know and who experienced a very different climate in the second half of the 20th century generally are very worried about climate change impacts on their prodigy and younger and future generations.
Most Americans I suspect are unaware of the devastating impacts of air pollution, especially fine particulate matter.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/1l0q6in/current_canadian_wildfires_to_impact_ohio_air/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/1l5xjw5/cleveland_air_quality_currently_at_an_unhealthy/
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u/Accomplished-Cow5716 Jul 05 '25
See, here we go. You just hate republicans and your chosen vehicle is the scam most Amercians refer to as Climate Change. I'm done. I tried to be nice. Have a nice day.
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u/BuckeyeReason Jul 05 '25
You just hate republicans and your chosen vehicle is the scam most Amercians refer to as Climate Change.
BS, especially that I hate Republicans. Clearly you are incredibly ignorant or just another Big Lie climate change denier propagandist if you believe climate change is a scam.
Your insults and deceit won't change reality.
Have many Republicans who are friends, and I personally objected to Biden/Democratic immigration policy and unchecked spending, not that I approve of all Trump policies in response.
However, as I documented, most Americans are extraordinarily concerned about accelerating climate change impacts.
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u/mrdan1969 Jul 03 '25
Not surprising as 90% of Middletown's residence would rather choke on coal dust then have anything to do with woke green energy. Because America! Everybody knows this.
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u/BuckeyeReason Jul 03 '25
What's the reaction in Middletown to this project cancellation?
This project cancellation likely was not a surprise.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MiddletownOhio/comments/1flitiq/trumpvance_would_block_grant_to_middletown_steel/