Ohio steel giant aims to use Biden climate funds for polluting project

Cleveland-Cliffs planned to use up to $500 million from a Biden administration grant to facilitate cleaner steelmaking at its Middletown Works in Ohio, aiming for a direct reduced iron facility powered by natural gas or hydrogen. However, the company has reportedly redirected these funds to instead refurbish the existing coal-based blast furnace and add a cogeneration plant that uses waste heat. This shift moves away from advanced industrial decarbonization methods toward maintaining traditional, high-pollution technology.