CLEVELAND - Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF), the sole producer of Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel (GOES) in the United States, welcomed U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm at its Butler Works plant in Pennsylvania today.
The visit comes on the heels of a Department of Energy (DOE) rule on transformer efficiency, which supports the use of GOES in electrical distribution transformers, safeguarding approximately 1,300 jobs at the facility.
Secretary Granholm's tour included discussions with Cleveland-Cliffs’ executives, including Chairman, President, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves, and meetings with employees and union leaders from the United Auto Workers (UAW), United Steelworkers (USW), and the International Association of Machinists (IAM).
The event highlighted the DOE's recent decision to engage in award negotiations with Cleveland-Cliffs for up to $75 million in funding, aimed at decarbonizing operations at Butler Works.
During a live-streamed speaking program, Secretary Granholm was expected to address the DOE’s commitment to investing in the decarbonization of the plant and the significance of the DOE’s transformer rule in maintaining the U.S. electric grid's integrity.
Cleveland-Cliffs, North America's largest flat-rolled steel producer and a major supplier to the automotive industry, is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The company's workforce numbers approximately 28,000 across its U.S. and Canada operations.
The company's strategic importance was underscored by the presence of other notable speakers at the event, including U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio and Mike Kelly, and local union leaders.
The event's proceedings were made available to the public via a live stream on Cleveland-Cliffs’ YouTube channel, with a replay accessible post-event.
This visit and the DOE's transformative investment reflect a significant step in supporting the steel industry's move towards more sustainable practices while preserving critical manufacturing jobs. The information regarding Secretary Granholm's visit and the DOE's support is based on a press release statement from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
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