Climate One
Climate One
Climate One from The Commonwealth Club
Cleaner Steel is Coming. Will the Communities That Built the Industry Benefit?
56 minutes Posted Jul 17, 2026 at 7:15 am.
– Introduction
Terry Steagall on the importance of the steel industry in northwest Indiana
Terry Steagall on relining blast furnaces 
Terry Steagall on cleaner steel for the next generation 
Hilary Lewis on steel industry emissions
Hilary Lewis on the realistic path to decarbonizing the steel industry
Hilary Lewis on the pressure facing the industry to make cleaner steel 
Hilary Lewis on the industry’s move to southern states 
Roger Smith on the scale of US Steel’s acquisition by Nippon Steel
Roger Smith on the “golden share” the Trump administration received 
Roger Smith on the viable technology for cleaner steel
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Show notes
Making steel accounts for around 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But the industry could reduce that number by removing coal from the steel-making process entirely. Three of the U.S.’s last seven coal-based steel mills are situated along Lake Michigan. Together, these facilities produce nearly half of the steel made in the U.S., supplying skyscraper beams, car doors, and appliances across the country. And right now, in Northwest Indiana, a once-in-a-generation decision is on the table. 
Nippon Steel, the owners of the Gary Works steel mill, can either extend the life of their aging blast furnaces for another 20 years and continuing coal-based production, or invest in cleaner, next-generation steelmaking. Other steelmakers have already moved towards decarbonization. Will Nippon switch to cleaner steelmaking for the next generation, or double-down on coal? 
Guests: 
Terry Steagall, Retired Steelworker, United Steelworker Union activist
Hilary Lewis, Steel Director, Industrious Labs 
Roger Smith, Asia Lead, SteelWatch
Highlights:
For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our ⁠⁠episode page⁠⁠ at climateone.org
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